• Zuopeng Wang, Kai Li, Wei Yao, Kuiran Dong, Xianmin Xiao, and Shan Zheng.
• Department of Pediatric Surgery, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
• Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2015 Apr 1; 62 (4): 577-80.

BackgroundKaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) still remains a particular and life-threatening disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vincristine (VCR) and the possibility of replacement with steroids in the treatment of steroid-resistant KHE with KMP.ProcedureWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 37 patients with steroid-resistant KHE who were treated at the Children's Hospital of Fudan University between March 2003 and March 2013.ResultsThe age of initial diagnosis with KHE was between 1 day and 10 months. Eight and 29 cases were located in the superficial and deep soft tissues, respectively. Thirty-seven KHE lesions did not respond well to steroids before starting VCR treatment. Twenty-six KHE lesions achieved complete remission, with platelet counts reaching normal levels within7.6 ± 5.2 weeks after VCR treatment. The vascular tumor began to decrease in size or soften at an average of 4.9 ± 2.7 weeks. Two KHE lesions had partial responses and one remains in treatment. Eight KHE lesions had no apparent response to VCR and thus received other therapies. Twenty-eight patients have ended treatment with VCR; the average length of treatment was 31.2 ± 5.9 weeks. Side effects occurred in 48.6% of patients who received steroids, and in 11.4% of patients who received VCR treatment. The mean follow-up time was 3.5 years. No recurrences have been reported.ConclusionsVCR appears to be a safe and effective treatment option in the management of steroid-resistant KHE with KMP, and recommended as first-choice treatment.© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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