Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome Follow-up

  • Author: Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC; Chief Editor: Emmanuel C Besa, MD   more...
 
Updated: Feb 22, 2010
 

Further Inpatient Care

  • Patients with Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon should be monitored in a hospital when thrombocytopenia occurs.
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Further Outpatient Care

  • When the platelet count stabilizes, hematologists and dermatologists should regularly monitor patients, and their medications should be gradually reduced.
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Complications

  • Complications of Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon include severe thrombocytopenia; platelet counts may be < 5 X 109/L (5000/µL).
  • There may be life-threatening bleeding and/or local invasion by the vascular lesion into vital organs of surrounding tissues.
  • Mortality from DIC can occur.
  • The potential exists for secondary malignancies at the local site in survivors who receive radiation therapy to the local mass.
  • Infections from skin breakdown with sepsis may occur
  • Iatrogenic complications from procedures, such as arterial ligation, arterial embolization, or surgical excision, can occur.
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Prognosis

  • The overall mortality rate for Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon is greater than 20%.
  • The clinical course of this condition is unpredictable, and effective treatment depends on control of the invasive tumor before secondary complications occur.
  • Even after failed treatment, the hematologic abnormalities may spontaneously resolve over a few months.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC  Professor Emeritus, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Dermatology, University of Toronto

Bernice R Krafchik, MBChB, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, Canadian Medical Association, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, and Society for Pediatric Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Linda K Hendricks, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Mercer University School of Medicine

Linda K Hendricks, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Hematology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Guy B Faguet, MD  Former Professor, Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, Medical College of Georgia

Guy B Faguet, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Immunologists, American Society of Hematology, International Society of Hematology, New York Academy of Sciences, Southern Medical Association, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sejal Kuthiala, MD  Staff Physician, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of Georgia

Sejal Kuthiala, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Michael Paul Kosty, MD  Associate Director, Associate Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Divisions of Supportive Care Services and Hematology and Oncology, Ida M and Cecil H Green Cancer Center, Scripps Clinic

Michael Paul Kosty, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Hematology, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Ronald A Sacher, MB, BCh, MD, FRCPC  Professor, Internal Medicine and Pathology, Director, Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center

Ronald A Sacher, MB, BCh, MD, FRCPC is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association of Blood Banks, American Clinical and Climatological Association, American Society for Clinical Pathology, American Society of Hematology, College of American Pathologists, International Society of Blood Transfusion, International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada

Disclosure: Glaxo Smith Kline Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Talecris Honoraria Board membership

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP  Southwest Medical Consultants, SC, Department of Medicine, Good Samaritan Hospital, Advocate Health Systems

Rajalaxmi McKenna, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Emmanuel C Besa, MD  Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University

Emmanuel C Besa, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for Cancer Education, American College of Clinical Pharmacology, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, and New York Academy of Sciences

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References

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Leg with a Kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, lesion associated with Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome.
Back of an arm showing the typical bruising associated with Kasabach-Merritt Syndrome.
 
 
 
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