Propranolol for the treatment of infantile hemangiomas: a nine-year monocentric experience from a tertiary hospital

Abstract

Background: Propranolol is currently considered the first-line therapy for problematic infantile hemangiomas (IH), the most common benign vascular neoplasm of infancy.

Objectives: We present a retrospective observational study aimed at assessing the efficacy of propranolol in 44 IH patients.

Materials & methods: A nine-year retrospective review considering clinicodemographical and therapy-related variables was performed on medical records of infants treated for IH with oral propranolol. Each lesion was assessed through a numeric severity score based on size and colour both at baseline and after treatment conclusion (p <0.05 was considered statistically significant).

Results: Complete remission was achieved in 90.7% cases of IH with a general mean improvement in severity of 94.94%. No severe adverse effects were reported. Preterm patients showed a superior response compared to term infants, even though the difference was not significant (p=0.185).

Conclusion: Propranolol showed high efficacy in terms of safety profile and cosmetic results. Prematurity and precocious therapy could be linked to a superior response.

Keywords: Pediatric population; hemangioma treatment; infantile hemangiomas; oral propranolol; systemic treatment; vascular neoplasms.