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Propranolol treatment for severe infantile hemangiomas: a single-centre 3-year experience

Anastasia Georgountzou1, Emmanouil Karavitakis, Alexandra Klimentopoulou

  • 1First Department of Paediatrics, University of Athens, Aghia Sophia Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece. stacegee1@hotmail.com

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|July 19, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Propranolol effectively treats infantile hemangiomas (IHs), showing significant regression in most patients. This treatment is well-tolerated, with good results even in cases of regrowth, though optimal duration requires further study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Dermatology
  • Vascular Malformations
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are common benign vascular tumors in infants.
  • Proliferative-phase IHs can cause significant cosmetic and functional issues.
  • Limited treatment options exist for problematic IHs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of propranolol as a monotherapy for infantile hemangiomas.
  • To evaluate propranolol's effectiveness in problematic, proliferative-phase IHs.
  • To determine the clinical response and side effects of propranolol treatment.

Main Methods:

  • 28 children with IHs received oral propranolol (2 mg/kg/day).
  • Cardiologic evaluation, hemodynamic monitoring, and blood glucose monitoring were performed.
  • Clinical response, tolerance, and photographic documentation were assessed monthly.

Main Results:

  • All patients showed initial improvements in color and growth within one month.
  • 24 patients achieved >90% regression after a mean of 7.56 months.
  • Four patients experienced hypotension; no treatment interruptions occurred due to side effects.

Conclusions:

  • Propranolol is an effective first-line treatment for infantile hemangiomas with excellent clinical tolerance.
  • Propranolol appears effective in managing IH regrowth.
  • Long-term studies are needed to determine optimal treatment duration.
Abstract

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