Patients with lymphatic malformations who receive the immunostimulant OK‐432 experience excellent long‐term outcomes

Abstract

OK-432 treatment resulted in a successful outcome in 70% of patients with lymphatic malformations. The long-term outcome was comparable to the short-term outcome.

Choice of Treatment Options for Cystic Lymphstic Malformations in the Head and Neck Region: Treatment Experience of 81 Children

“…One of the most safe and effective ways of cystic LMs treatment in children is the OK-432 sclerotherapy [5,16]. The OK-432 (Chugai Pharmaceuticals, Tokyo, Japan) is a lyophilized powder of Streptococcus pyogenes (group A, type 3, Su strain) incubated with benzylpenicillin.…”

“…The OK-432 is not exactly a sclerosing agent, because it doesn't destroy vascular endothelium. The OK 432 induces apoptosis of lymphatic endothelium and local cellular inflammatory reaction [7,16]. Recent studies have proved that the pathway of the OK-432 action within lymphangiomas is probably cellular and cytokine-mediated [7,16].…”

“…In the cyst fluid the level of inflammatory mediators increases that confirms the inflammation in response to the injection of the drug [15]. The effectiveness of the OK-432 sclerotherapy in the treatment of cystic LMs has been described in small series of some medical centres [16,17]. Since 2011 OK-432 is successfully used in Ukraine [18].…”

Treatment of deep-seated facial microcystic lymphatic malformations with intralesional injection of pingyangmycin

“…[11] Three in 4 patients with diffuse lesions involving nearly the entire face had fair or poor therapeutic effects. They were given sirolimus at a dose of 0.8 mg/m 2 , taken twice daily at the internal of 12 hours.…”

“…[18] One major complication of OK-432 use is delayed swelling and higher fever. Ghaffarpour et al [11] reported 5 patients with readmisson to the hospital as a result of major swelling after injection. In addition, the use of OK-432 is forbidden in patients who are allergic to penicillin.…”