Interventional approaches to neonatal Kasabach-Merritt syndrome: method selection and therapeutic effectiveness

Abstract

Objective To explore therapeutic effects of different interventional approaches to neonatal Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (K-MS) Methods A retrospective analysis of therapeutic effects of different interventional approaches to K-MS in 12 neonates from May 2010 to August 2014. All the patients received local treatment (n=5), chemoembolization (n=4) and combined local treatment and endovascular chemoembolization (n=3), respectively, depending on size, location and blood supply of K-MS. The K-MS patients with angioma measuring 5 cm received local treatment, endovascular chemoembolization and combined local treatment and endovascular chemoembolization, respectively. The patients were categorized as cured, improved and clinical inefficient, respectively, based on therapeutic effect. The criteria for cured patients were: (1) angioma faded completely or mostly; (2) the platelet count stabilized within the normal range; (3)no recurrence for more than six months. The criteria for improved patients were: (1) angioma shrinked significantly; (2) the platelet stabilized within the normal range. The criteria for clinical inefficient patients were: (1) agioma no obviously shrinked, the platelet count has no improvement over 2 months after interventional approaches. Results All the 12 patients with K-MS were cured and had no complication. Of the 12 patients, 5 patients received local treatment had decreased localized tension and ecchymosis of hemangioma at the first day of therapy, were cured after 2 to 7 courses of therapy. Of the 4 patients received endovascular chemoembolization, 3 were cured after one course of treatment, 1 had recurrent disease one month later after one course of therapy and were cured after the second course of treatment.One had recurrent disease a month later after one course of treatment and were cured after the second course of treatment. Three received combined local treatment and endovascular chemoembolization, angioma shrinked significantly and increased platelet count after the first course of treatment, and 2 to 3 courses local treatment were combined, hemangioma faded and platelet count stabilized within the normal range after 2 to 3 courses of local treatment. Conclusions Interventional therapy is the most effective treatment of neonatal K-MS.There are different interventional approaches to optimize treatment of neonatal K-MS depending on sizes, location and blood supply of K-MS. Key words: Infant, newborn; Radiology, interventional; Kasabach-Merritt syndrome