title: Interferon alfa-2a therapy for airway hemangiomas.
abstract: Hemangioma is a well-recognized cause of airway obstruction in the infant with stridor. Corticosteroid and laser therapy are effective in stabilizing the airway in most cases. There are, however, some extensive airway lesions that are not adequately managed by these modalities. This report describes the use of recombinant interferon alfa-2a in 15 patients with life-threatening airway hemangiomas. All patients had failed corticosteroid and/or laser therapy. Multiple upper airway sites were involved, including the base of the tongue, supraglottis, subglottis, trachea, and mediastinum. Eleven patients have completed therapy and are doing well. Four patients have resolving lesions on the drug regimen. Life-threatening airway lesions unresponsive to conventional treatment should be considered for a trial of interferon alfa-2a.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ohlms
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: McGill
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Healy
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D016609:Neoplasms, Second Primary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014140:Tracheotomy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins