[Interferon for hemangiomas of infancy]

Hemangioma, the most common tumor of infancy, is usually harmless. It frequently appears soon after birth, proliferates for 8-18 months, and then slowly regresses over the next 5-8 years, leaving the skin normal or only slightly blemished. However, hemangiomas sometimes cause devastating tissue damage and may be associated with thrombocytopenia and life-threatening hazards. About a third of these cases respond to corticosteroid therapy, but often with rapid rebound following its discontinuation. Successful treatment of large and life-threatening hemangiomas with interferon alpha-2a has recently been reported. We found it effective in a 3.5-month-old male with a large symptomatic hemangioma. After 6 months of daily interferon alpha-2a (Referon, Hoffman-LaRoche), 3 million units/m2/day, all symptoms disappeared and the lesion was halved in size. There were no significant side-effects. This treatment is effective and safe and should be considered in infants with large, symptomatic hemangiomas.