Kasabach-Merritt Phenomenon: Classic Presentation and Management Options

• Main Authors: Priya Mahajan, Judith Margolin, Ionela Iacobas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publishing 2017-03-01
• Series: Clinical Medicine Insights: Blood Disorders
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1177/1179545X17699849

Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon (KMP) is a rare consumptive coagulopathy associated with specific vascular tumors, kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, and tufted angioma. Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon, characterized by profound thrombocytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, elevated fibrin split products, and rapid tumor growth, can be life-threatening. Severe symptomatic anemia may also be present. With prompt diagnosis and management, KMP can resolve and vascular tumors have been shown to regress. This review highlights the clinical presentation, histopathology, management, and treatment of KMP associated with kaposiform hemangioendothelioma, and less frequently tufted angioma. A classic clinical case is described to illustrate the presentation and our management of a patient with KMP.