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Semin Plast Surg 2014; 28(02): 087-090
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1376259
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Beta-Blockers as Therapy for Infantile Hemangiomas

Harrison P. Nguyen
1   Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
,
Brent B. Pickrell
1   Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
,
Teresa S. Wright
2   Department of Dermatology, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 May 2014 (online)

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Abstract

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are common benign vascular tumors seen in children. Although the majority will improve spontaneously without treatment, a small subset will require therapy due to a variety of complications. Less than a decade ago, propranolol replaced corticosteroids as first-line treatment for most IH and it has proven to be a relatively safe, effective therapy. After initiation of propranolol, most hemangiomas show evidence of significant improvement relatively rapidly, often within days. Although propranolol is generally felt to have a more limited side-effect profile than systemic corticosteroids, its use has been infrequently associated with adverse events, including sleep disturbances, acrocyanosis, hypotension, bradycardia, respiratory events, and hypoglycemia. Rarely, hypoglycemic seizures have been reported, usually occurring in the setting of prolonged fasting.

Keywords

infantile hemangiomas - pediatric tumors - β-blocker - propranolol - timolol