Safety of Propranolol for Severe Infantile Hemangioma: A Prospective Cohort Study

In infants with severe forms of IH, adverse drug reactions caused by propranolol were uncommon, and serious ADRs were rare.

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common, benign vascular tumor characterized by rapid proliferation shortly after birth and eventual spontaneous regression (see NEJM JW Dermatol Oct 16 2015). Severe forms require systemic therapy. Propranolol is currently the only FDA approved medication.

In France, a national compassionate drug use program provided propranolol (off-label before 2014) to patients with severe IH complications. Investigators studied this cohort of 906 infant propranolol recipients. Clinical and adverse drug reaction (ADR) data were collected at initiation and then monthly for up to 2 years. Indications for inclusion were functional impairment (72%), severe ulceration (40%), and life-threatening conditions (16%); 43 patients had …

Reviewing Author

Mary Wu Chang, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Pierre Fabre; Valeant

Speaker’s bureauPierre Fabre

Mary Wu Chang, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory board Pierre Fabre; Valeant

Speaker’s bureauPierre Fabre

Safety of Propranolol for Severe Infantile Hemangioma: A Prospective Cohort Study

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Reviewing Author