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Most infantile hemangiomas (IHs) require only watchful waiting, but when complications such as impairment of vision, ulceration, airway compromise, or disfigurement are present, intervention is required. Systemic corticosteroids are the mainstay of therapy, but prospective studies evaluating their immunosuppressive effects have been lacking.
Investigators at a children's hospital prospectively studied 16 infants (13 girls; mean age, 2.9 months) who required corticosteroid therapy for IH.
The prednisolone dose was 2.5 mg/kg/day by mouth, which was increased to 3 mg/kg/day if response was poor. The duration of therapy ranged from 8 to 32 weeks (mean, 22 weeks). Standard immunizations were given on schedule.
Corticosteroid-associated effects incl…