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The significance of atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients with epistaxis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 February 2018

S Elwany ,
A A Ibrahim ,
A I Soliman ,
R Bazak  and
H A Ibrahim
S Elwany*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Egypt
A A Ibrahim
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Egypt
A I Soliman
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Egypt
R Bazak
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Egypt
H A Ibrahim
Affiliation:
Department of Ophthalmology, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Egypt
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Samy Elwany, Department of Otolaryngology, Alexandria Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria, Egypt E-mail: samyelwany@gmail.com
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Abstract

Background:

The relationship between hypertension and epistaxis is controversial and poorly understood. The present research investigated atherosclerosis as a potential risk factor in hypertensive patients with epistaxis.

Methods:

A prospective study of 141 hypertensive patients with epistaxis was conducted. The laboratory tests included full blood count, lipid profile and coagulation profile. All patients underwent funduscopic examination of the eye and were classified in terms of four retinopathy grades.

Results:

There were strong positive correlations between the number of nosebleeds and retinopathy grade and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. There were weak correlations between the number of nosebleeds and blood pressure readings and triglycerides levels. Patients with grade III retinopathy, suggesting atherosclerosis, suffered from more frequent nosebleeds than other patients.

Conclusion:

Atherosclerosis is one of the potential risk factors in hypertensive patients with epistaxis. This may have an impact on treatment choices.

Keywords

HypertensionEpistaxisRetinaAtherosclerosisCholesterol

Information

Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 132 , Issue 4 , April 2018 , pp. 323 - 326
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2018 

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