Journal
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
Volume 65, Issue 2, Pages 320-327Publisher
MOSBY-ELSEVIER
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.06.048
Keywords
guideline; hemangioma; hypoglycemia; infant; propranolol; side effects; treatment
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background: Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a frequently encountered tumor with a potentially complicated course. Recently, propranolol was discovered to be an effective treatment option. Objective: To describe the effects and side effects of propranolol treatment in 28 children with (complicated) IH. Methods: A protocol for treatment of IH with propranolol was designed and implemented. Propranolol was administered to 28 children (21 girls and 7 boys, mean age at onset of treatment: 8.8 months). Results: All 28 patients had a good response. In two patients, systemic corticosteroid therapy was tapered successfully after propranolol was initiated. Propranolol was also an effective treatment for hemangiomas in 4 patients older than 1 year of age. Side effects that needed intervention and/or close monitoring were not dose dependent and included symptomatic hypoglycemia (n = 2; 1 patient also taking prednisone), hypotension (n = 16, of which 1 is symptomatic), and bronchial hyperreactivity (n = 3). Restless sleep (n = 8), constipation (n = 3) and cold extremities (n = 3) were observed. Limitations: Clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the incidence of side effects of propranolol treatment of IH. Conclusions: Propranolol appears to be an effective treatment option for IH even in the nonproliferative phase and after the first year of life. Potentially harmful adverse effects include hypoglycemia, bronchospasm, and hypotension. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2011;65:320-7.)
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available