title: Interferon-alpha in the treatment of high-risk haemangiomas in infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Haemangiomas are benign tumours that may occasionally compress vital structures, or cause consumptive coagulopathy and heart failure. We describe our recent experience with interferon-alpha as a treatment modality for high-risk haemangiomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight children with high-risk haemangiomas were treated with interferon-alpha, six of which had failed previous steroid therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven children responded to interferon therapy, one boy with a liver haemangioma died. Mild leucopenia and granulocytopenia were observed in all treated patients. Neurotoxicity occurred in 3 patients and was the most frequent serious complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interferon-alpha is an effective treatment modality for high-risk haemangiomas in children, especially in steroid-resistant patients. The most serious complication was early neurological toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, University Children's Hospital of Kraków, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szymik-Kantorowicz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kobylarz
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Krysta
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Górecki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bysiek
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Celmer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dzierzega
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha