Efficacy of a topical sesame/rose geranium oil compound in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia associated epistaxis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS Topical Sesame/Rose geranium oil compound is an effective therapy for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) associated epistaxis. STUDY DESIGN Cohort Study. METHODS Twenty patients with HHT confirmed by the Curaçao criteria were treated with a sesame/rose geranium oil topical compound between January 2010 and June 2011. A treatment evaluation survey was conducted at least 3 months after treatment initiation. Changes in epistaxis severity scores (ESS), patient satisfaction, and any adverse effects were assessed. RESULTS A total of 20 patients completed the study. The average (SD) age was 54.4 (14.6), and 14 (70%) were female. The median time on rose geranium oil was 183 days (IQR: 114-311). At the conclusion of the study, 18 (90%) were still using rose geranium oil. The majority (75%) of patients subjectively felt improvement with the treatment. The improvement was felt to be gradual in 25% and immediate in 50% of patients. Mean (SD) overall satisfaction using a 10-point Likert scale was 7.8 (3.1), with 50% of the patients reporting a satisfaction rating of 10. Mean (SD) epistaxis severity score (ESS) prior to treatment was 5.3 (1.7). After treatment with sesame/rose geranium oil, mean (SD) ESS was found to be 3.5 (1.8). Treatment with sesame/rose geranium oil was associated with a statistically significant improvement in ESS by 1.81 (P <0.0001). There were no adverse side-effects from the treatment. CONCLUSION A sesame/rose geranium oil compound can significantly reduce the epistaxis severity scores of patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia-related epistaxis.