Clin Pediatr Hematol Oncol.  2016 Oct;23(2):97-104. 10.15264/cpho.2016.23.2.97.

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

• Kim KM
• Min DH
• Jung HL
• Shim JW
• Kim DS
• Shim JY
• Park MS
• Park HJ
• Lee SY

• KMID: 2358365
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.15264/cpho.2016.23.2.97

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Propranolol, a beta-blocker and well known anti-hypertensive medication, has been used as the first-line therapy for pediatric hemangioma since 2010. The objective of this study is to analyze the efficacy and safety of propranolol when used to treat pediatric hemangioma patients for one year or longer in a single institution.
METHODS
A retrospective chart review analysis was done of 65 pediatric hemangioma patients treated with oral propranolol as the first-line therapy from 2010 to 2016. The patients were examined regularly at an interval of 1 to 2 months for changes in hemangioma size, growth and development, and occurrence of acute side effects of propranolol such as hypotension, hypoglycemia and bronchial constriction.
RESULTS
Twenty patients were treated with propranolol for a year or longer and their median age was 202 days (range, 36 to 4,284 days) and mean duration of treatment was 22.5 months (range, 12 to 49 months). At 12 months of treatment, the average percentage of size decrement was 40.5%. When the weight and height percentile were compared between at diagnosis and 12 months post-treatment, all 20 patients showed normal growth curve and development. Patients did not show any acute side effects of propranolol during 12 months of treatment. One patient experienced hypoglycemia induced seizure, but this event was subsequently diagnosed as ketotic hypoglycemia induced from prolonged fasting.
CONCLUSION
Propranolol was effective and well tolerated in children with hemangioma when used for one year or longer.

Keyword

Hemangioma; Propranolol

MeSH Terms

Bronchoconstriction
Child
Diagnosis
Fasting
Growth and Development
Hemangioma*
Humans
Hypoglycemia
Hypotension
Propranolol*
Retrospective Studies
Seizures
Propranolol