Propranolol for treatment of ulcerated infantile hemangiomas

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 64; no. 5; pp. 827 - 832
• Main Authors: Saint-Jean, Mélanie, MD, Léauté-Labrèze, Christine, MD, Mazereeuw-Hautier, Juliette, MD, Bodak, Nathalie, MD, Hamel-Teillac, Dominique, MD, Kupfer-Bessaguet, Ingrid, MD, Lacour, Jean-Philippe, MD, Naouri, Michaël, MD, Vabres, Pierre, MD, Hadj-Rabia, Smail, MD, Nguyen, Jean-Michel, MD, Stalder, Jean-François, MD, Barbarot, Sébastien, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.05.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - administration & dosage; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child, Preschool; Dermatology; Female; General aspects; Head and Neck Neoplasms - drug therapy; Hemangioma - complications; Hemangioma - drug therapy; Hemangioma - pathology; Humans; infantile hemangioma; Male; Medical sciences; propranolol; Propranolol - administration & dosage; Propranolol - therapeutic use; Retrospective Studies; Skin Neoplasms - drug therapy; Skin Ulcer - drug therapy; Skin Ulcer - etiology; Treatment Outcome; ulceration; Wound Healing - drug effects; ulceration; FPDL; flashlamp pulsed-dye laser (therapy); infantile hemangioma; propranolol; IH; Human; Vascular disease; Angioma; Treatment; Dermatology; Cardiovascular disease; Antiarrhythmic agent; Propranolol; Ulceration; Child
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2010.12.040
• ISSN: 0190-9622

Background Ulcerated infantile hemangiomas (IH) are a therapeutic challenge. Propranolol, a nonselective beta-blocker, was recently introduced as a novel treatment for IH. Objective To evaluate our experience of propranolol in the management of ulcerated IH. Methods A national, multicenter, retrospective, observational study was conducted. Data were collected from the medical charts of patients treated from 2008 to 2009 and supplemented by information obtained from parents during targeted telephone interviews. Results Thirty-three infants with propranolol-treated ulcerated IH were included. The average time to complete ulceration healing was 4.3 weeks in 30 of 33 patients and was significantly faster for head-and-neck locations ( P  = .0354). The mean time to complete pain control was 14.5 days. Parents rated treatment as very effective for 27 of 31 patients and very well tolerated for 29 of 31 cases. Limitations This was a retrospective uncontrolled study. Conclusion Propranolol appears to be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for ulcerated IH.