First-in-Israel Breakthrough Treatment for Vascular Malformations
This innovative technology, based on controlled electrical pulses, enables a therapeutic drug to penetrate vascular malformation cells at a concentration up to 10,000 times higher than with conventional treatment, significantly reducing the need for repeated invasive procedures.
The Angiography Unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center has become the first center in Israel to perform this groundbreaking treatment for complex vascular malformations, which primarily affect children and adolescents.
The new treatment, known as Reversible Electroporation (RE), has demonstrated high success rates, including in challenging cases that previously failed to respond to conventional therapies.
Vascular malformations are a complex and heterogeneous group of disorders affecting the blood vessel system.
Until now, the standard treatment in Israel and worldwide involved injecting a sclerosing agent directly into the malformation in an attempt to shrink it – a procedure known as sclerotherapy. However, the effectiveness of conventional sclerotherapy is limited, and many patients require multiple lengthy series of invasive procedures to achieve symptom control and pain relief.
The technology recently introduced at Shaare Zedek represents a major advancement in the treatment process.
During the procedure, a specialized medication (Bleomycin) is delivered directly into the vascular malformation through a small catheter. Immediately afterward, a dedicated probe delivers a short, precisely controlled electrical pulse to the targeted tissue. This pulse temporarily and reversibly opens microscopic pores in the cell membranes, allowing the medication to enter the malformation cells at concentrations up to 10,000 times greater than with standard treatment. The result is highly targeted destruction of the abnormal tissue while dramatically reducing the number of treatments required.
Dr. Adam Farkas, Director of the Angiography Unit at Shaare Zedek Medical Center and leader of the new treatment program, said:
“We are seeing outstanding clinical results, particularly among young patients who have already undergone multiple invasive procedures at other hospitals without success. This innovative treatment finally provides a real and rapid solution for these patients. The effectiveness has been so impressive that most patients referred to us with vascular malformations are now directed straight to the Reversible Electroporation treatment pathway.”
Last week, specialists from hospitals across Israel visited the Angiography Unit at Shaare Zedek to observe these innovative procedures firsthand. They also participated in a dedicated international webinar led by Professor Walter Wohlgemuth of Germany, one of the pioneers and developers of the technique worldwide, with the goal of learning from the experience accumulated at Shaare Zedek and helping expand access to this important medical advancement.
