title: Pulse methylprednisolone therapy for threatening periocular haemangiomas of infancy.
abstract: Periocular haemangiomas of infancy can cause severe and rapid ocular damage. Oral corticosteroids remain the front-line treatment to minimize the consequences of these haemangiomas. The aim of this report is to summarize our experience with pulse intravenous methylprednisolone as an alternative therapy for periocular haemangioma when visual prognosis is engaged. Fifteen infants, who presented periocular haemangioma with functional impact on vision, received 2 mg/kg methylprednisolone intravenously twice a day for 2 days. Following pulse therapy, 2 mg/kg/day prednisolone was given orally with gradual tapering. No further visual impact was noticed following pulse therapy. Two patients relapsed, needing new pulses or, in one case, vincristine. No serious side-effects were recorded. Pulse methylprednisolone therapy permitted a particularly rapid shrinkage of haemangiomas and a complete disappearance of their visual impact within 2 days. Apparently more rapid than the usual oral corticosteroids, pulse intravenous methylprednisolone decreases the risk of ocular complications, which correlates with the duration of the influence of haemangiomas.
authors.affiliation: Clinique de Dermatologie, Hopital Claude Huriez, 1 rue Polonowski, FR-59037 Lille Cedex, France. franckdelesalle@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Franck
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delesalle
authors.forename: Delphine
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Staumont
authors.forename: Mohamed Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Houmany
authors.forename: Georges Marie
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Breviere
authors.forename: Frederic
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Piette
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005142:Eyelid Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009918:Orbital Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D008775:Methylprednisolone