title: [Interferon alpha and infantile orbital hemangioma].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the efficacy and safety of interferon alpha therapy for the treatment of infantile periorbital hemangiomas associated with visual impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of 4 patients diagnosed of orbital hemangioma during infancy. All of them were treated with interferon alpha 2b at doses of 3 million U/m2, administered once daily by subcutaneous injection, at least during 3.5 months. The lesions were compared through clinical evaluation and diagnostic imaging (echography, CT and MRI) before, during and after treatment, estimating the percentage of lesion reduction in relation to the initial size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 3 cases, a 95% volume reduction was detected, and greater than 50% in the other one. Spastic diplegia was detected in a child during treatment, but resolved without persistent neurological deficits when discontinued. Alterations in plasmatic lipid profile were detected in one patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interferon alpha can be a valuable treatment for periorbital hemangiomas of infancy; even though, adverse effects can be clinically significant.
authors.affiliation: Servicios de Oftalmología y Pediatria General del Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Damas Mateache
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Menéndez Suso
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Abelairas Gómez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Albajara Velasco
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peralta Calvo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verdú Sánchez
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Royo Orejas
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha