Tranexamic acid in the treatment of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome in infants

Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (thrombocytopenia, consumption coagulopathy, and, occasionally, microangiopathic hemolysis) is an infrequent but often lethal complication of giant capillary hemangiomas in the infant. We report the clinical course of an infant who came to us with this syndrome shortly after birth. She was successfully treated with transfusions of blood products, high-dose oral prednisone, and a fibrinolytic inhibitor, tranexamic acid. No complications of the treatment occurred. The hematological abnormalities resolved completely by 2 years of age. Although prednisone may have been necessary for stabilization and involution of the hemangioma, the addition of tranexamic acid allowed earlier tapering of the steroid therapy and fewer transfusions. Tranexamic acid was extremely well tolerated in this newborn.     

Hydrops Fetalis Caused by Fetal Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome

There have been only 2 previous reports of nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis (NIHF) caused by fetal Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, both of which were pathological studies. This is the first clinical case report of NIHF due to fetal Kasabach-Merritt syndrome that was prenatally diagnosed by sonography, computerized tomography, and percutaneous umbilical blood sampling.     

The Kasabach-Merritt syndrome with pancreatic localization in a newborn infant

The case of a neonate with a large pancreatic hemangioma belonging to the Kasabach-Merritt syndrome is reported. Selective embolization of one of the main vessels originating from the gastroduodenal artery resulted in a progressive increase of blood platelet levels and in a concomitant change in the hemangiomatous structure at ultrasound examination, as well as in a subsequent acceleration of somatic growth. At 8 months of age, there were no more clinical, radiological, ultrasonographic or biological signs of the hemangioma. This case report emphasizes the interest of embolization in the Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.     

激素抵抗型婴幼儿Kasabach-Merritt综合征治疗中雷帕霉素的临床应用价值探讨

目的 初步评估临床上应用雷帕霉素治疗激素抵抗型婴幼儿Kasabach-Merritt综合征的临床疗效及安全性.方法 2015年2月至2016年4月共收集8例在我科接受治疗的Kasabach-Merritt综合征患儿,其中男5例,女3例,病灶位于颌面部3例、颈部1例、四肢2例,胸腹壁2例,8例患儿均表现为激素抵抗,对激素抵抗型Kasabach-Merritt综合征采用mTOR抑制剂雷帕霉素治疗.雷帕霉素服用方法为每次0.8 mg/m2,2次/d,间隔12h,血药浓度维持10～15 ng/ml.定期监测血常规、凝血功能、肝肾功能、血脂及雷帕霉素血药浓度等指标.根据血药浓度、血小板变化、凝血功能、瘤体缩小情况及副作用可适当调整用药计划.结果 8例患儿经雷帕霉素治疗后血小板均恢复正常,瘤体萎缩,并逐步撤离了激素,有效率达到100％.雷帕霉素平均起效时间(6.8±2.7)d,平均血小板稳定时间(19.1±8.5)d,目前雷帕霉素总的用药时间为4～10个月,平均(6.0±2.2)个月,开始雷帕霉素单药治疗时间为2～8个月,平均(4.5±1.9)个月.8例患儿仍在服药进行中,均无血小板下降和病灶复发.药物使用中不良反应主要为口腔黏膜炎及口腔溃疡(2例,GradeⅡ)、呕吐(1例,Grade工)、腹泻(2例,Grade Ⅰ/GradeⅡ)、发热(2例,GradeⅡ)、皮疹(1例,Grade Ⅰ)、疼痛(1例,Grade Ⅰ)、短暂性转氨酶及血脂异常(1例,Grade Ⅰ/GradeⅡ),予对症治疗后好转,无严重不良事件,无病例退出.结论 mTOR抑制剂雷帕霉素治疗激素抵抗型Kasabach-Merritt综合征具有一定的疗效及安全性,值得临床进一步推广应用.     

Activation of the coagulation system occurs within rather than outside cutaneous haemangiomas

Haemangiomas are the commonest tumours of infancy. They can become even more serious if followed by consumption coagulopathy and even life-threatening in cases of Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, with thrombocytopenia and haemorrhage. Data exist concerning systemic coagulation abnormalities in children with haemangiomas but to our knowledge there are no data on local consumption coagulopathy in haemangioma per se . We examined blood coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters in blood withdrawn from haemangioma blood vessels and blood withdrawn from the systemic vein in 14 children with cutaneous haemangiomas (3M, 11F; age range 3 mo to 10 y). Compared with controls, significant decreases in fibrinogen levels, FVII activity, antithrombin and plasmin inhibitor levels and increases in international normalized ratio (INR) and D-dimer levels were observed in the blood samples withdrawn directly from haemangioma blood vessels. Fibrinogen and antithrombin levels in samples withdrawn from systemic veins were reduced in relation to control values whilst INR values increased, but within normal ranges. D-dimer levels were increased in peripheral blood. The fibrinogen level was significantly lower and the INR and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in blood samples from haemangiomas compared to systemic blood. Clinical signs of systemic disseminated intravascular coagulation were not observed.

Conclusions : Our results suggest a strong local activation and local consumption coagulopathy in haemangioma, along with less conspicuous but observable systemic changes in coagulation and fibrinolysis parameters, although without signs of consumptive coagulopathy. These systemic changes could be a reflection of intra-lesion coagulation activation although there is no evidence to suggest truly systemic disseminated intravascular coagulation.     

Nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis: a clinicopathological study of 50 autopsy cases

Fifty cases of nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis found in Japanese infants are reported. Nonimmunologic hydrops fetalis is associated with various pathological conditions, twin transfusion syndrome including acardiac monsters, fetal heart diseases, congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation, pulmonary sequestration, pulmonary lymphangiectasia, intrauterine infections such as cytomegalovirus infection and neonatal hepatitis, congenital neuroblastoma, Kasabach-Merritt syndrome, cystic hygroma, and chromosomal aberrations. The mechanism of hydrops fetalis found in these conditions is discussed from various viewpoints. Despite a careful examination, no causative conditions were found in 14 cases. The placenta showed a proliferation of Hofbauer cells that were strongly positive for immunoreactive alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and there were other common findings such as edema of terminal villi and fibrin thrombi.     

Kasabach-Merritt综合征治疗中自体原位植皮术的应用

目的 对Kasabach-Merritt综合征手术治疗过程中使用自体原位植皮术,评价其治疗效果,提出一种新的手术治疗方式.方法 回顾性分析2010年至2015年间自体原位植皮手术治疗的Kasabach-Merritt综合征患儿23例,病例纳入标准:均为瘤体分布弥散,皮肤大面积(＞5 cm×5 cm)异常,手术切除瘤体后创面缝合困难;非手术治疗方法无效;血小板值在2×109/L～31×109/L.23例Kasabach-Merritt综合征患儿瘤体均位于四肢,上肢6例,下肢17例;男9例,女14例;年龄7 d～9个月.总结该手术治疗方法的手术要点及术中、术后处理,分析治愈率及术后并发症.术后均经病理学检查证实为卡波西样血管内皮瘤(kaposiform hemangioendothelioma,KHE)20例,丛状血管瘤(tufted angioma,TA)3例.结果 23例患儿均在术后1周内血小板值恢复正常,随访1～5年,治愈率为100％;18例患儿自体皮片原位移植全部成活,有3例成活面积约90％,经后续换药处理后愈合,2例原位皮片移植成活约60％,行二期皮肤移植修补手术后治愈,术后并发症少.结论 手术治疗Kasabach-Merritt综合征可作为有效的治疗方法,本组资料显示,自体原位植皮术作为一种新的手术方式,治愈率100％,术后并发症少,其对符合适应证者是一种可选择治疗手段.     

Kasabach-Merritt综合征研究进展

Kasabach-Merritt综合征是以巨大血管肿瘤伴发血小板减少和全身出血倾向为特征的一种综合征,其病理生理基础是血小板减少和弥漫性血管内凝血(DIC),与巨大血管肿瘤密切相关.治疗方案主要包括纠正DIC和血小板减少,根据具体情况选择外科治疗(手术切除、栓塞等)或内科药物治疗(糖皮质激素、α-干扰素、免疫抑制剂等)去除血管肿瘤.     

-Neonatal Kasabach-Merritt syndrome healed by complete surgical excision of the angioma-.

BACKGROUND: Kasabach-Merritt syndrome is an infrequent combination of a giant hemangioma and severe thrombocytopenia. This syndrome may be life-threatening. There are various but no definitive methods of treatment. We describe here a neonatal case cured by total excision of the tumor. CASE REPORT: A boy was admitted at birth with a giant hemangioma of the back with thrombocytopenia. Tumor compression, corticosteroids, acetylsalicylic acid and ticlopidine were ineffective. Total surgical excision was performed on day 51, resulting in complete recovery. CONCLUSION: Total surgical excision of a localized hemangioma in a non-functional area is probably the most appropriate and justified treatment for the Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.     

FIBRINOLYSIS IN NEWBORNS

The fibrinolytic system was studied in 207 normal fullterm newborns during the first 5 days of life. A high, but rapidly decreasing plasminogen activator activity was found during the first 4 hours in umbilical vein blood in all of the children studied. The activity in the cord blood was lower and cannot be regarded as representative of the child. Fibrinolytic split products were demonstrated in large and rapidly decreasing amounts in serum samples without the addition of EACA but in at most small amounts in serum when EACA was added at sampling. These findings confirm the high plasminogen activator activity at birth which rapidly falls and furthermore show that there are no significant amounts of split products in vivo in the newborn. The plasminogen level was decreased in accordance with previous investigations. The high activator activity is counterbalanced by adequate inhibitory protection with an increase of the α₂-macroglobulin and inhibitors of plasminogen activation and the adult content of antiplasmin. The mean fibrinogen values in the first 48 hours of life are in the lower part of the normal range, but increase on the third day to a significantly higher level.     

Endovascular treatment of huge cervicofacial hemangioma complicated by Kasabach-Merritt syndrome

A 2-month-old girl with a huge cervicofacial hemangioma complicated by Kasabach-Merritt syndrome was presented. Two weeks corticosteroid treatment was ineffective, and deterioration of coagulation parameters and compromise of the airway and left vision due to huge hemangioma prompted use of endovascular treatment. Transfemoral arterial embolization using polyvinyl alcohol particles resulted in rapid clinical improvement. Endovascular treatment should be considered as an important therapeutic option for hemangioma complicated by Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.     

Giant cavernous haemangioma with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome: a case report and review

We report the case of a 4-month-old boy presenting with a giant cutaneous haemangioma complicated by Kasabach-Merritt syndrome (KMS) with severe thrombocytopenia. After poor response to corticosteroid therapy and subsequent treatment with interferon alpha-2a, radiotherapy led to tumour regression and resolution of the disseminated intravascular coagulopathy over a 14-month period of follow up. Whereas the various available treatment options are reviewed and discussed in this article, the therapy of choice should be chosen individually. CONCLUSION: to date prospective randomised and controlled trials are required to investigate the optimal management of patients with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome.     

Orbital lymphangioma with non-contiguous cerebral arteriovenous malformation, manifesting with thrombocytopenia (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome) and intracerebral hemorrhage

This study describes the first reported case in a preterm infant of an orbital lymphangioma with non-contiguous cerebral arteriovenous malformation, manifesting with thrombocytopenia (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome) and intracerebral hemorrhage. Conclusion: Neonates presenting with orbital lymphangiomas should undergo radiological investigations of the lesion and a detailed cerebral evaluation for associated arteriovenous developmental anomalies.     

A search for chromosome 22q11.2 deletions in a series of 176 consecutively catheterized patients with congenital heart disease: no evidence for deletions in non-syndromic patients

Microdeletions in chromosome 22q11.2 are associated with DiGeorge syndrome (DGS), velo-cardio-facial syndrome (VCFS), and several other syndromes, collectively referred to as DG/VCF. Non-dysmorphic patients with cardiac defects have also been attributed to deletions in this chromosomal region. In this study 157 consecutively catheterized patients with isolated, non-syndromic cardiac defects, and 25 patients with cardiac defects and additional stigmata (10 of whom were clinically diagnosed as DG/VCF cases prior to chromosome analysis) were analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridization with the DGS-specific probe D0832. Chromosome 22q11.2 deletions were observed only in the ten patients with the clinical diagnosis of DG/VCF. Conclusion In a large unselected cohort of patients with congenital heart disease no association between isolated or non-syndromic heart defects and the 22q11.2 microdeletion was observed. One can conclude that testing for the 22q11.2 microdeletion is clearly indicated in cases when even mild extracardiac abnormalities are present, particularly in very young infants. Received: 24 February 1998 / Accepted in revised form: 04 May 1999     

Double-blind placebo-controlled trial of corticosteroids in children with postpericardiotomy syndrome

Summary The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of corticosteroids in hastening the recovery of children with postpericardiotomy syndrome, using a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial in a tertiary care referral center for pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. Twenty-one children, 6 months of age or older (mean age 3.9 years) with postpericardiotomy syndrome following open or closed heart surgery were administered either prednisone 2 mg/kg/day reducing to zero over 14 days (n=12) or placebo (n=9). Progress was monitored by daily clinical assessment and alternate day cross-sectional echocardiograms. The primary measures of efficacy were the number of patients in remission at 72 h and at 1 week. No difference in remission rates were found at 72 h, but at 1 week significantly more children treated with prednisone were in remission (placebo 3/9; prednisone 10/12,p=0.03). A trend to faster resolution of all symptoms and signs was seen in the prednisone-treated group but this was not associated with earlier hospital discharge. Enlargement of pericardial effusion was seen in two children treated with steroids. No complications of treatment were encountered. Prednisone hastens the recovery of children with postopericardiotomy syndrome. Pericardial effusions may increase in size despite the use of corticosteroids.Presented in part at the Society for Pediatric Research, New Orleans, May 1991.     

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis and cancer: a case report and review of the literature

Multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MR) is a syndrome characterized by papulonodular skin lesions, a debilitating polyarthritis, and characteristic histologic findings. It is a rare disorder with only 82 cases reported. Twenty-eight percent had an associated neoplasm. Hematologic malignancies (four) and neoplasms arising from the breast (four), cervix (three), stomach (three), ovary (two), colon (two), lung (one), pleura (one), and from an unknown source (two) were all seen associated with MR. Eleven cases (including our own) were available for review. The papulonodular skin involvement was the initial manifestation (alone or concurrent with the polyarthritis) in 90% of our cases. The diagnosis of MR preceded that of the associated neoplasm in 73% of the cases. A case report is presented illustrating the relapse of MR before the clinical relapse of the associated tumor, and the response of both the tumor and MR to combination chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, and prednisone when prednisone and aspirin alone failed to relieve the symptoms of MR. Steroids were not beneficial in the patients reviewed. The best management of MR associated with a neoplasm is the best management of the primary neoplasm. Cytotoxic chemotherapy including cyclophosphamide should be considered if there is progression of the MR in order to control the symptoms of MR and prevent a progressive debilitating arthritis.     

A case of head and neck kaposiform hemangioendothelioma simulating a malignancy on imaging

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KH) is an endothelial-derived spindle cell neoplasm often associated with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. Most cases arise in infancy and childhood and are soft-tissue tumors. The tumor displays an appearance between capillary hemangioma and Kaposi's sarcoma. We report a case of KH in a 1-year-old girl involving a mass that showed abnormal enhancement of soft tissue superficial to the right temporal bone with partial destruction of the temporal bone, the temporomandibular joint, mandibular condyle, and occipital bone. The physical finding of a discolored mass led clinicians to consider a hemangiomatous lesion, whereas the radiological picture suggested a more aggressive diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma and aggressive fibromatosis. Received: 8 March 2001/Accepted: 6 August 2001     

Early surgical intervention in a patient with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon

A 3-day-old male infant with a 3-cm firm subcutaneous mass was found to have decreased platelets, decreased fibrin, and increased fibrin split products diagnostic of Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon. The vascular lesion was resected without complications. We suggest that early surgical intervention is an excellent therapeutic option for Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon.     

A case of axillary kaposiform hemangioendothelioma resembles a soft tissue sarcoma

Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma is a rare, aggressive vascular proliferation in children that is clinically and histologically distinct from hemangioma of infancy. It is often complicated with Kasabach-Merritt syndrome. The authors describe a 2-month-old girl who developed a rapidly enlarging deep subcutaneous solid tumor in the left axilla. The tumor size was about 10x7 cm and there was no skin change over the mass. The results of laboratory tests were significant for a moderate anemia (7.0 g/dL) and a profound thrombocytopenia (3x10/L). The preoperative radiologic findings were suspicious for a soft tissue sarcoma with scapular erosion. Anemia and thrombocytopenia were corrected by preoperative corticosteroid therapy and blood component transfusion. The tumor was excised totally and the pathologic findings were consistent with Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma. Serial blood examinations showed that the hemoglobin and platelet count returned to the normal range after surgery.     

Consumptive Coagulopathy in Utero Associated with Multiple Vascular Malformations

We report a postmature male infant who died at age 2 h of asphyxiating pulmonary hemorrhage. Autopsy found edema, serous ascites, and vascular malformations within myocardium, lung, mediastinal soft tissue, thoracic-wall skeletal muscle, spleen, thyroid and adrenal glands, and pancreas. The pulmonary malformations had arteriovenous features, while those elsewhere were predominantly capillary; many of the latter contained fibrinous thrombi. Circulating nucleated erythrocytes, siderosis of proximal renal tubular epithelium, and intrahepatocytic and intracanalicular cholestasis were present. We believe that these findings represent an unusual instance of hemangioma-associated consumptive coagulopathy and intravascular hemolysis (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome) of antenatal onset, associated with features suggestive of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome).