Oral Propranolol for Infantile Hemangioma: The New Treatment of Choice?

Infantile hemangiomas are vascular tumors that affect about 5% of infants. Although most lesions will spontaneously involute, some lesions can create life-threatening or functional complications because of their location. In a randomized placebo-controlled trial, researchers evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral propranolol (titrated to a maximum dose of 2 mg/kg divided in 3 doses daily for 6 months) in 40 children (age range, 9 weeks to 5 years) at imminent or time-sensitive risk for complications of infantile hemangiomas.

All children were followed closely for adverse effects and response to therapy, and children younger than 6 months were admitted to and monitored in the hospital after the first doses at weeks 1 and 2. Hemangioma grow…