title: Treatment of alarming head and neck infantile hemangiomas with interferon-α2a: a clinical study in eleven consecutive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of interferon-α2a in the treatment of alarming infantile hemangiomas in the head and neck region.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2009-December 2010, a subcutaneous injection of interferon-α2a was applied to eleven infants with giant multifocal or segmental hemangiomas at a dose of 3 million units/m(2) per day. All patients did not respond to propranolol or corticosteroids. The age at initiation of interferon-α2a therapy ranged from 3 days to 8 months (median: 4 months). The duration of therapy ranged from 2-4.5 months (median: 3 months). Eight patients received medication for 3 months, one patient for 4.5 months, and two patients for 2 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine patients had a reduction in tumor mass of 95%; two patients' tumors decreased in size by 75%. The overall response rate was 100%. The main adverse effects included fever, diarrhea, and anorexia, which resolved after stopping the medication. No serious adverse effect was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term treatment with interferon-α2a can be used as a safe and effective treatment for alarming infantile hemangiomas that are resistant to propranolol or corticosteroids, and that endanger the proper functioning of the affected organ or the patient's life.
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China ; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors: Ling
authors: L
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China ; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jia Wei
authors: JW
authors: Zheng
authors: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China ; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, People's Republic of China ; School of Pharmacy, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors: Wei En
authors: WE
authors: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
keywords: adverse effect; head and neck; hemangioma; interferon-α