Correlation between recurrent epistaxis and atherosclerotic retinal changes in hypertensive patients

Abstract

Abstract Background Hypertension has long been considered as the most common factor associated with epistaxis. However, the relation between epistaxis and hypertension is a matter of longstanding controversy. Aim This study investigated atherosclerosis as a potential risk factor in hypertensive patients presented with recurrent attacks of epistaxis, through fundoscopic examination and identification of the degree of hypertensive retinopathy in these patients. Patients and methods Observational cross-sectional study of 100 patients presented with epistaxis was conducted. These patients were divided into two groups; Group A with 50 known hypertensive patients with recurrent attacks of epistaxis and group B (the control group) with other 50 patients presented with epistaxis due to causes other than hypertension. All patients underwent monitoring of blood pressure, and rhinoscopic and fundoscopic examination. Results There was no correlation between the number of previous episodes of epistaxis the patients had and the finding of their fundoscopic examination, despite being a correlation between the elevated blood pressure and the frequency of epistaxis they had. Conclusion This study showed that the relation between recurrent hypertensive epistaxis and hypertensive atherosclerotic retinal changes was insignificant.