Use of propranolol for treatment of infantile haemangiomas in an outpatient setting

Abstract

Propranolol appears to be an effective treatment for infantile haemangiomas, particularly large segmental facial lesions. A poor response was seen in 20% of patients. Treatment has been provided in an outpatient setting without major complications and with excellent parental compliance. The side effect profile appears to be favourable, but further follow-up is required to identify unexpected long-term side effects.

Analysis of factors affecting the therapeutic effect of propranolol for infantile haemangioma of the head and neck

“…Investigators have observed that children who start treatment earlier have better responses 17, 18 than older children. In our study, age had a significant impact on the IH treatment duration.…”

Safety profile during initiation of propranolol for treatment of infantile haemangiomas in an ambulatory day‐care hospitalization setting

“…The absence of severe side‐effects in any of the numerous reports of propranolol use supports the safety of propranolol. Their absence in outpatient settings with various methods of follow‐up supports the safety of ambulatory monitoring …”

Oral propranolol for infantile haemangioma may be associated with transient gross motor delay

“…We found that children treated with propranolol have evidence of delayed gross motor development when screened at 10–24 months, but not thereafter, suggesting that propranolol may temporarily delay attainment of gross motor milestones in the early post‐treatment period. Effects on infant development would be in keeping with the documented effects of oral propranolol on childhood and adult sleep, sedative effects observed in some children, and the modification of motor and cognitive functioning in adult volunteers . Two case–control studies have addressed concern about negative effects of propranolol using questionnaire‐based developmental screening tools and found no evidence of delay in infants taking propranolol.…”

“…Phillips et al . followed 200 children prescribed propranolol, observing sedative effects during treatment and reported gross motor abnormalities in 13 of 188 children, seven of whom had delayed age at first walking (17–20 months) …”