Brachial plexus paralysis due to giant cavernous hemangioma with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome: successful management with interferon alpha.
Giant hemangiomas are rare in newborn babies and may cause some life-threatening complications such as congestive heart failure and coagulopathies including severe thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and bleeding such as Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. We have presented here one infant case with a right lower brachial plexus paralysis due to giant hemangioma treated successfully with interferon alpha and have discussed the treatment. This is the first case of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome associated with a right lower brachial plexus paralysis treated with interferon in the literature to our knowledge. The administration of interferon-alpha might be indicated as a therapy for severe, life-threatening and giant hemangiomas such as Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, especially when there is resistance to steroid. However, more extensive data and new patients are needed to clarify this issue.
Peker
Erdal
E
Department of Pediatrics, Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey. pekererdal@hotmail.com
Kirimi
Ercan
E
Tuncer
Oguz
O
Ceylan
Abdullah
A
Oner
Ahmet F
AF
D000328:Adult; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013577:Syndrome; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins