title: Successful treatment of Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon with intralesional corticosteroid injections: a case series.
abstract: Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) is a rare and life-threatening disease of vascular tumor combined with severe consumptive coagulopathy. Currently, there is no established effective treatment of KMP. In this case series, from 2006 to 2008, we treated 6 pediatric patients with newly diagnosed KMP using intralesional corticosteroid injections. The severity and progression of the disease were closely monitored with clinical photographs, blood sampling, and tissue biopsies. The 6 pediatric patients (5 females and 1 male) showed tumor regression after treatments. All coagulopathies were corrected. The average duration of treatment was 3.8 months. Complete tumor regression was observed at approximately 3 years. Treatment was complicated in 1 patient with transient growth retardation. Treatment based on intralesional corticosteroid injections is effective for pediatric patients with KMP. Treatment-associated complications seemed to be reversible and acceptable by severity level.
authors.affiliation: Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Cathay General Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Jian-Jr
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Li-Ying
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shun-Wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Ting-An
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shiann-Tarng
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Jou
authors.forename: Charlos Chih-Ho
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ming-Ting
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D059885:Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones