December 2011. Volume 7. Number 4

Propranolol: future or present in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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AVC | Critically appraised articles

Hogeling M, Adams S, Wargon O. A randomized controlled trial of propranolol for infantile hemangiomas. Pediatrics. 2011;128:e259-66.
Reviewers: Rivas Fernández MÁ1, Buñuel Álvarez JC2.
1Hospital General de Cataluña. Sant Cugat del Vallés. Barcelona. España.
2CS Villamayor de Gállego. Zaragoza. España.
Correspondence: Mª Ángeles Rivas Fernández. Email: mayrivas5@gmail.com
Reception date: 23/10/2011
Acceptance date: 08/11/2011
Publication date: 10/11/2011

Abstract

Authors' conclusion: this clinical trial confirms previous findings on the safety and efficacy of oral propranolol treatment of infantile hemangiomas. Propranolol produces a significant decrease in volume, redness and elevation in all stages of the natural history of the tumour. These facts justify its use as a first choice drug in potentially disfiguring or complicated child hemangiomas.

Reviewers' commentary: the results of this study demonstrate that propranolol is effective in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas. However the optimal dose is unknown and larger trials are lacking to determine the incidence of any adverse effects. Since most of infantile hemangiomas produce only aesthetic consequences and the vast majority of them regress and disappear in the long term, currently the use of propranolol should be restricted to selected cases.

How to cite this article

Rivas Fernández MA, Buñuel Álvarez JC. Propranolol: ¿futuro o presente en el tratamiento de los hemangiomas infantiles? Evid Pediatr. 2011;7:93.

AVC | Critically appraised articles

Hogeling M, Adams S, Wargon O. A randomized controlled trial of propranolol for infantile hemangiomas. Pediatrics. 2011;128:e259-66.
Reviewers: Rivas Fernández MÁ1, Buñuel Álvarez JC2.
1Hospital General de Cataluña. Sant Cugat del Vallés. Barcelona. España.
2CS Villamayor de Gállego. Zaragoza. España.
Correspondence: Mª Ángeles Rivas Fernández. Email: mayrivas5@gmail.com
Reception date: 23/10/2011
Acceptance date: 08/11/2011
Publication date: 10/11/2011

How to cite this article

Rivas Fernández MA, Buñuel Álvarez JC. Propranolol: ¿futuro o presente en el tratamiento de los hemangiomas infantiles? Evid Pediatr. 2011;7:93.

References

  1. Zaher H, Rasheed H, Hegazy RA, Hegazy RA, Abdelhalim DM, Gawdat HI. Oral propranolol: an effective, safe treatment for infantile hemangiomas. Eur J Dermatol. 2011;21:558-63.
  2. Kelly ME, Juern AM, Grossman WJ, Drolet BA. Immunosuppressive effects in infants treated with corticosteroids for infantile hemangiomas. Arch Dermatol. 2010;146:767-74.
  3. de Graaf M, Breur JM, Raphaël MF, Vos M, Breugem CC, Pasmans SG. Adverse effects of propranolol when used in the treatment of hemangiomas: a case series of 28 infants. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2011; 65:320-7.
  4. Sans V, de la Roque ED, Berge J, Grenier N, Boralevi F, Mazereeuw-Hautier J et al. Propranolol for severe infantile hemangiomas: follow-up report. Pediatrics. 2009; 124:423-31.

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