Clinical analysis of 17 cases of pneumatic compression therapy in infants with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon

Abstract

To summarize the efficacy and safety of employing pneumatic compression therapy in infants with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP). 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. 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). Pneumatic compression therapy has definite curative effects for KMP lesions in extremities and trunk and its side effects are fewer.