[Clinical analysis of 17 cases of pneumatic compression therapy in infants with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon].
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the efficacy and safety of employing pneumatic compression therapy in infants with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP).


METHODS
Seventeen patients with KMP (11 males, 6 females) were treated with pneumatic compression therapy from October 1997 to May 2008. And their clinical characteristics, course of treatment and clinical and laboratory data were retrospectively analyzed. Among 17 patients, 8 cases were located in trunk, 5 in lower extremities and 4 in upper extremities. The diameters of lesions exceeded 8 cm in all patients. The platelet count was all < 100 x 10(9)/L while hemoglobin < 110 g/L and fibrinogen < 2.0 g/L. The self-designed device for pneumatic compression hemangioma therapy was employed (Patent No: ZL97232266. 3). Biopsy and exairesis were performed from the local lesions with KMP in order to determine the pathological features.


RESULTS
Two patients were cured after pneumatic compression therapy for 4 and 6 months respectively, and their lesions disappeared, blood parameters became normal and remained relapse-free after a 5/11-year follow-up. Eleven patients were effective after pneumatic compression therapy for 4 - 6 months, and improvement was demonstrated after 6 - 24 months follow-up without any treatment. Two patients showed improvement after pneumatic compression therapy for 6 months after a follow-up for 5 months or 2 years without progression. After a 6-month pneumatic compression therapy, 2 ineffective patients underwent surgical resection. There were 14 cases of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) and 3 cases of tufted hemangioma (TA).


CONCLUSIONS
Pneumatic compression therapy has definite curative effects for KMP lesions in extremities and trunk and its side effects are fewer.
Liu
Xue-Jian
XJ
Specialty Department of Hemangioma and Lymphangioma, Tumor Hospital of Linyi, Shandong Province 276001, China. doudebao@163.com
Tai
Mao-Zhong
MZ
Tian
Ming-Xia
MX
Qin
Zhong-Ping
ZP
D000743:Anemia, Hemolytic / Q000628:therapy*; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006390:Hemangioendothelioma / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000628:therapy*