Endometrial ablation for severe menorrhagia in a patient with hereditary hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is a rare, inherited disease characterized by abnormal visceral and superficial blood vessel anastomoses. These telangiectasias predispose the patient to a lifelong history of recurrent bleeding for the nasal and gastrointestinal mucosa. Less commonly involved organs include the liver, brain and lung. To date there is no cure for this disease. Management requires many palliative minor surgical procedures to stop actively bleeding sites. Major surgery is often contraindicated in these patients due do coexisting medical sequelae of their underlying disease.

METHODS

Menorrhagia was diagnosed in a 42 year-old multipara with known history of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. The bleeding was unresponsive to hormonal therapy. Substantial preexisting conditions, including profound anemia, history of multiple strokes, a seizure disorder and ventricular arrhythmias, precluded major surgical intervention, including hysterectomy. Serial injections of leuprolide acetate injections were followed by hysteroscopic "rollerball" electrocoagulation of the endometrium under regional anesthesia. On long-term follow up, the patient was cured of her menorrhagia.

CONCLUSIONS

Endometrial ablation provides patients who have significant medical complications with an effective, minimally invasive alternative to hysterectomy for control of menorrhagia.