Comparison of Corticosteroid and Vincristine in Treating Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma and Tufted Angioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Eur J Pediatr Surg. 2019 Oct;29(5):401-407. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1673708. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the outcome and safety of corticosteroids and vincristine (VCR) in the treatment of kaposiform hemangioendothelioma (KHE) and tufted angioma (TA).

Materials and methods: Clinical studies involving corticosteroids and VCR therapies in treating KHE/TA were identified by using PubMed, Cochrane Library, OVID, EBSCO, CNKI, VIP, and Wanfang databases from their establishment date to December 2017. Randomized controlled trials, case-control, or case series with more than five cases were included. The following data were extracted: study sample, demographics, responses rate, recurrence rate, and adverse reactions. Two reviewers completed screening and extraction. Methodological quality was evaluated with quality appraisal tool.

Results: A total of 266 studies were found, and 27 studies were finally included in this research; quality of all studies was low. Seven studies with a total of 123 participants, which compared the effect of systemic corticosteroids with that of VCR, were performed for the meta-analysis. The results indicated that the effect of VCR was significantly higher than that of corticosteroids (relative risk [RR] = 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.38-3.16). The recurrence rate of VCR (11.1%) was lower than that of corticosteroids (50%), but there was no statistical difference between the two therapies (p = 0.1312). The result of pooled adverse reactions response rate for VCR was 18.2%, significantly lower than that for corticosteroids, which was 52.0%.

Conclusion: The present profile shows that VCR is relatively more effective and safer in treating KHE/TA than corticosteroids are. So, we believe VCR could be used as a first-line medication agent in the treatment of KHE/TA.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Hemangioendothelioma / drug therapy*
  • Hemangioma / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Observational Studies as Topic
  • Recurrence
  • Sarcoma, Kaposi / drug therapy*
  • Skin Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Vincristine

Supplementary concepts

  • Kaposiform Hemangioendothelioma
  • Tufted angioma