Safety assessment of propranolol for infantile hemangioma: a study in an Asian population

Objective To evaluate the safety of initiating and maintaining propranolol therapy for infantile hemangioma (IH) and the safety of different doses. Methods The retrospective analysis included 336 consecutive cases of infants with IH treated between January 2016 and October 2017. The patients were assessed in the hospital at the initiation of the therapy and later in outpatient settings during the therapy. The monitoring included blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), blood glucose, hepatic and renal function, myocardial enzymes and serum lipids. Cardiac examinations in the outpatient follow-up included electrocardiography, ultrasound echocardiography, height, weight and head circumference. Results Propranolol decreased BP and HR at the initiation of treatment. The incidences of sinus bradycardia and hypoglycemia increased with the time of administration. Mean height, weight and head circumference were not affected during the treatment. The incidence of PR prolongation was 0%-5.7%. The effect of propranolol on the cardiovascular system, metabolism and physical development was not affected by its dose. Conclusion Oral propranolol is a safe treatment for IH. Serious side effects were not observed. Attention should be paid to the side effects during clinical treatment.