Propranolol as a First-line Treatment for Pediatric Hemangioma: Outcome of a Single Institution Over One Year

Update on infantile hemangioma

The International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies classifies vascular anomalies into vascular tumors and vascular malformations. Vascular tumors are neoplasms of endothelial cells, among which infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common, occurring in 5%-10% of infants. Glucose transporter-1 protein expression in IHs differs from that of other vascular tumors or vascular malformations. IHs are not present at birth but are usually diagnosed at 1 week to 1 month of age, rapidly proliferate between 1 and 3 months of age, mostly complete proliferation by 5 months of age, and then slowly involute to the adipose or fibrous tissue. Approximately 10% of IH cases require early treatment. The 2019 American Academy of Pediatrics clinical practice guideline for the management of IHs recommends that primary care clinicians frequently monitor infants with IHs, educate the parents about the clinical course, and refer infants with high-risk IH to IH specialists ideally at 1 month of age. High-risk IHs include those with life-threatening complications, functional impairment, ulceration, associated structural anomalies, or disfigurement. In Korea, IHs are usually treated by pediatric hematology-oncologists with the cooperation of pediatric cardiologists, radiologists, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons. Oral propranolol, a nonselective beta-adrenergic antagonist, is the first-line treatment for IHs at a dosage of 2-3 mg/kg/day divided into 2 daily doses maintained for at least 6 months and often continuing until 12 months of age. Topical timolol maleate solution, a topical nonselective beta-blocker, may be used for small superficial type IHs at a dosage of 1-2 drops of 0.5% gel-forming ophthalmic solution applied twice daily. Pulse-dye laser therapy or surgery is useful for the treatment of residual skin changes after IH involution.

Oral propranolol therapy in 23 infants with infantile hemangioma

Background

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common vascular tumor in pediatric patients, and is commonly treated with propranolol. We describe our experiences with dosage, response to treatment, and side effects in 23 IH patients treated with propranolol.

Methods

For this nonrandomized comparative cohort study, the authors enrolled 23 patients treated with propranolol. Photographs were taken before propranolol administration and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment. Treatment responses were objectively analyzed with a computer program.

Results

There were three male and 20 female patients. Common tumor locations were the head and neck (13 cases, 56.5%), trunk (four cases, 17.4%), extremities (three cases, 13.0%), and combined locations (three cases, 13.0%). The response to propranolol was significantly lower in patients with two or more lesions than in patients with a single lesion in terms of both color fading (P<0.001) and size reduction (P<0.001). In male patients (42.2±3.9), the change in a-values, indicating coloration, was higher than in female patients (19.8 ±13.8)(P<0.001). In patients who started treatment before 6 months after birth, the size reduction was greater than in their counterparts (62.3%; range, 3.0%–93.0% vs. 15.8%; range, 1.0%–79.0%; P<0.001).

Conclusions

Propranolol is an efficacious treatment with a good safety profile. In patients with a single lesion, the response to treatment was better in terms of color fading and size reduction. Furthermore, male patients responded better to propranolol treatment in terms of color fading than female patients, and starting treatment before 6 months after birth was more advantageous for size reduction.