Is Propranolol Safe and Effective for Outpatient Use for Infantile Hemangioma? A Prospective Study of 679 Cases From One Center in China. Issue 5 (May 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chang, Lei; Ye, Xiaoxiao; Qiu, Yajing; Ma, Gang; Jin, Yunbo; Chen, Hui; Lv, Dongze; Yu, Wenxin; Yang, Xi; Wang, Tianyou; Lin, Xiaoxi
• Is Part Of: Annals of plastic surgery. Volume 76:Issue 5(2016:May)
• Publication Date: 2016-05
• Subjects: propranolol -- infantile hemangioma -- outpatient -- safe -- effective -- parents' education; Surgery, Plastic -- Periodicals; 617.95205
• DOI: 10.1097/SAP.0000000000000506
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0148-7043

Abstract

Abstract : Background: The protocol for the treatment of infantile hemangioma with propranolol varies among different clinical centers. Methods: Six hundred seventy-nine patients who were 1 to 12 months old were recruited in this prospective study to receive propranolol treatment. The response to the propranolol therapy was classified as 4 levels. The results were primarily evaluated using color Doppler ultrasound examinations before and after propranolol treatment. Results: The response was excellent in 176 (25.9%), good in 492 (72.5%), stable in 5 (0.7%), and poor in 6 (0.9%) of the patients. The mean age at the initiation of the therapy was 3.3 months (range, 1 to 10.9 months) and the mean duration of the therapy was 7.1 months (range, 3–17 months). The mean duration of the follow-up time after the discontinuation of the therapy was 5.3 months (range, 3–17 months). Regrowth of the hemangioma was observed in 92 cases (13.5%). Seventy-nine (11.6%) of the parents complained of their child's minor discomfort during the therapy. Conclusions: Propranolol (2 mg/kg per day) may significantly reduce the size of a hemangioma. As an outpatient therapy, propranolol was found to be safe for Chinese children and to have minor side effects.