Propranolol as the first-line therapy for infantile hemangiomas: preliminary results of two centers
Ahmet Celik1, Sibel Tiryaki, Allahverdi Musayev
1Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Izmir, Turkey. ahmet.celik@ege.edu.tr
Insights
Propranolol effectively treats infantile hemangiomas, stabilizing and regressing lesions without side effects. This study supports propranolol as a first-line therapy for infantile hemangiomas, even post-proliferation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Dermatology
- Vascular Anomalies
Background:
- Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) can cause significant functional and cosmetic issues.
- Existing treatments for IHs have limitations due to side effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of propranolol treatment for infantile hemangiomas.
Main Methods:
- A protocol involving 67 patients (36 boys, 31 girls) treated with propranolol (2 mg/kg/day).
- Patients were admitted for the initial 24 hours of therapy.
- Radiology and pediatric cardiology consultations guided patient selection.
Main Results:
- All 67 patients demonstrated improvement in their infantile hemangiomas.
- The mean age for starting therapy was 7 months, with 11 patients older than 12 months.
- No adverse side effects were observed during propranolol treatment.
Conclusions:
- Propranolol shows high efficacy in stabilizing and regressing infantile hemangiomas.
- The treatment is feasible and well-tolerated, with no detected side effects.
- Propranolol is recommended as a first-line therapy for infantile hemangiomas, including those beyond the proliferation phase.
Aim:
Despite a mostly self-limiting course, infantile hemangiomas can cause severe functional and/or cosmetic problems. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency of propranolol treatment on infantile hemangiomas.
Methods:
Sixty-seven infantile hemangioma patients were included in propranolol protocol in two institutions from 2009 to 2011. Participants included 36 boys and 31 girls. An associate protocol with radiology and pediatric cardiology was constructed for appropriate patient selection. Patients received a dose of 2 mg/kg/day, and all were admitted for the first 24 hours of therapy.
Results:
Sixty-seven patients were included in the study. Mean age at the initiation of therapy was 7 months (1 to 24 months), and eleven patients were older than 12 months of age when propranolol was started. All patients showed improvement with varying responses. No side effects were detected during the treatment.
Conclusion:
Previously defined treatments for hemangiomas were efficient, yet had a limited usage because of side effects. Propranolol, with a high efficacy (not as total involution but stabilization and regression) and feasibility deserves to be the first line therapy for infantile hemangiomas even after the proliferation phase.
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