Assessment of Some Haematological and Haemostatic Parameters in Individuals With Epistaxis in Owerri, Nigeria.

Epistaxis, commonly known as nosebleed, is a frequent clinical condition encountered in emergency settings. While oftenattributed to local factors such as trauma or environmental influences, systemic conditions, including haematological andhaemostatic abnormalities, can predispose individuals to recurrent or severe episodes. This study was aimed at assessingsome haematological and haemostatic parameters of individuals with epistaxis at federal medical center, Owerri. A totalof 30 patients attending federal medical center, Owerri who presented with epistaxis were recruited for the study, whilethirty (30) healthy subjects served as controls. 5 mls of blood samples was collected from each participant, and 3mls wasaliquoted into sodium citrate bottle and used to determine prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time,while the remaining 2mls was dispensed into ethylenediaminetetracetic acid (EDTA) bottle and used for packed cell volume(PCV) and platelet count determination. These parameters were determined using standard laboratory procedures. Datagenerated was analyzed using SPSS version 21, and mean, standard deviation, t-test, and p-value were determined. Themean values of PCV and platelets were significantly reduced in epistaxis patients (27.90 ± 3.52) % and (168.87 ± 62.74) × 109/Lwhen compared to controls (34.40 ± 3.88)% and (296.80 ± 75.28) × 109/L respectively (p = 0.000). There was no significantdifference in the mean values of PT and APTT in epistaxis patients (12.28 ± 1.10 and 31.08 ± 7.08) secs when compared tocontrols (12.74 ± 1.24 and 32.99 ± 2.87) secs (p = 0.131 and 0.176) respectively. There was no significant difference in themean values of PCV and platelets (27.55 ± 4.19) % and (173.90 ± 70.45) × 109/L in male epistaxis patients when comparedto females (27.73 ± 2.94) % and (192.18 ± 52.62) × 109/L (p = 0.902 and 0.459), and no significant difference in the meanvalues of PT and APTT in male epistaxis patients (12.00 ± 1.25; 28.63 ± 5.09) secs when compared to females (28.63 ± 5.09;28.29 ± 5.53) secs, respectively (p = 0.569 and 0.712). The study has shown that epistaxis is associated with a significantdecrease in PCV and platelet count, and a non- significant difference in the mean value of PT and APTT. There was nosignificant difference in the mean values of PCV, platelet count, PT and APTT in male epistaxis patients when compared tofemale counterparts. Therefore, it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive haematological and haemostatic assessment toidentify potential underlying disorders. Management should be tailored based on the identified cause, and patients withsignificant haematological and haemostatic abnormalities should be referred to a specialist.