Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Modeling Posthemorrhagic Hydrocephalus of Prematurity in Rats
Published on: March 28, 2025
Prospective study of infantile hemangiomas: demographic, prenatal, and perinatal characteristics
Insights
Infants with hemangiomas are more likely to be female, white non-Hispanic, premature, and born from multiple gestations. Prenatal factors like older maternal age and conditions such as placenta previa and pre-eclampsia were also associated. These factors did not predict complications or treatment needs.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Neonatology
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are common vascular tumors in infants.
- Understanding associated demographic, prenatal, and perinatal factors is crucial for predicting outcomes.
- Previous studies have suggested potential links, but comprehensive characterization is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify demographic, prenatal, and perinatal characteristics of infants diagnosed with infantile hemangiomas.
- To assess the predictive value of these factors for complication rates and treatment necessity in IH patients.
Main Methods:
- A prospective study involving 1058 children (≤12 years) with IHs across 7 U.S. pediatric dermatology clinics.
- Data collection via standardized questionnaires for demographic, prenatal, perinatal, and IH-specific information.
- Comparison with National Vital Statistic System (NVSS) data for demographic and prenatal event rates.
Main Results:
- Infants with IHs were significantly more likely to be female, white non-Hispanic, premature, and from multiple gestations compared to general birth data.
- Associated prenatal factors included advanced maternal age, placenta previa (3.1%), and pre-eclampsia (11.8%).
- No identified demographic, prenatal, or perinatal factors reliably predicted higher complication rates or the need for treatment.
Conclusions:
- Infants with IHs exhibit distinct demographic profiles, including female sex, white non-Hispanic ethnicity, prematurity, and multiple gestations.
- Prenatal factors such as older maternal age, placenta previa, and pre-eclampsia are more prevalent in IH cases.
- Despite these associations, demographic, prenatal, and perinatal factors do not appear to predict the severity or treatment requirements of infantile hemangiomas.
Objectives:
To characterize demographic, prenatal, and perinatal features of patients with infantile hemangiomas and to determine the importance of these factors in predicting rates of complication and treatment.
Study Design:
We conducted a prospective study at 7 U.S. pediatric dermatology clinics. A consecutive sample of 1058 children, aged 12 years and younger, with infantile hemangiomas was enrolled between September 2002 and October 2003. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect demographic, prenatal, perinatal, and hemangioma-specific data. National Vital Statistic System Data (NVSS) was used to compare demographic variables and relevant rates of prenatal events.
Results:
In comparison with the 2002 United States National Vital Statistics System birth data, we found that infants with hemangiomas were more likely to be female, white non-Hispanic, premature (P < .0001) and the product of a multiple gestation (10.6% versus 3.1%; P < .001). Maternal age was significantly higher (P < .0001), and placenta previa (3.1%) and pre-eclampsia (11.8%) were more common.
Conclusions:
Infants with hemangiomas are more likely to be female, white non-Hispanic, premature, and products of multiple gestations. Prenatal associations include older maternal age, placenta previa, and pre-eclampsia. No demographic, prenatal, and perinatal factors predicted higher rates of complications or need for treatment.
