Retrospective Evaluation of an Oral Propranolol Delivery Strategy in 25 Cases of Infantile Hemangioma

Abstract

Objectives: The majority of infantile hemangiomas shrink on their own, but when there is a chance of functional impairment, ulceration, or aesthetic issues, an active therapeutic intervention is needed. Propranolol is effective in treating infantile hemangiomas in recent years, although little information is known regarding the consequences of long-term oral administration of propranolol for treating infantile hemangioma or regarding when to stop propranolol treatment. We looked back at the therapeutic effectiveness, sequelae, and side effects of propranolol in actual clinical settings for infantile hemangiomas. Methods: The study comprised 25 patients under the age of 6 months who had propranolol treatment for infantile hemangiomas in our department between April 2011 and May 2021. Results: At one month and 6 months following the commencement of treatment, propranolol treatment was successful in 72% and 96% of patients, respectively. In 84% of patients, there were cutaneous sequelae. Only one patient with sequelae of hair loss required early surgery because of a cosmetic problem. There were substantial side effects in one case, but these were not related to the propranolol dose. Conclusions: This study found that the effect of propranolol did not differ depending on the kind of infantile hemangiomas, although propranolol was expected to be extremely helpful for head lesions regardless of site. A degree of sequelae remained in many cases following propranolol therapy, whereas the subcutaneous type was less likely to develop sequelae with propranolol treatment.

Keywords

• infantile hemangioma
• propranolol
• sequelae