Interferon-alpha for alarming hemangiomas in infants: experience of a single institution.
BACKGROUND
Hemangioma is the most common tumor in infancy. 'Alarming hemangiomas' refer to the lesions that potentially impair vital structures or cause life-endangering complications, and which warrant vigorous treatment. Interferon-alpha has been used for alarming hemangiomas at Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, since 1994.


METHODS
The records of 21 consecutive infants treated between January 1994 and December 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. The initial dose of interferon-alpha was 50 000 IU/kg per day, which was increased to 100,000 IU/kg per day in the second week of therapy if tolerated. It was tapered depending on response, with total treatment lasting no longer than 12 months. Treatment response was evaluated depending on the size of the lesion and resolution of complications.


RESULTS
The duration of therapy ranged from 6 to 12 months. Six patients (29%) had a reduction in mass of > or =25% after 1 month of therapy. Twenty patients (95%) had achieved a decrease in size of 50% by 12 months, and 15 (71%) had total involution of lesions by a median age of 13.5 months (range 7-50 months). Only mild and transient adverse effects were encountered. No neurologic complications occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
Interferon-alpha appears to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for alarming hemangiomas in infancy.
Chao
Yu-Hua
YH
Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Liang
Der-Cherng
DC
Chen
Shu-Huey
SH
Wang
Lin-Yen
LY
Yeh
Ting-Chi
TC
Liu
Hsi-Che
HC
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005153:Facial Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins