title: Tocolysis with the β-2-sympathomimetic hexoprenaline increases occurrence of infantile haemangioma in preterm infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infantile haemangioma (IH) is the most commonly observed tumour in children. Off-label pharmacological treatment of IH with the beta-blocker propranolol induces regression of IH. Based on the fact that IH are more frequently observed in premature babies than in mature babies and the evidence that beta-blocker therapy leads to regression of IH, the authors generated the hypothesis that the use of β-2-sympathomimetics during pregnancy for inhibiting premature labour might increase occurrence of IH in preterm infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  For group comparison t test, Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were used. Logistic regression was carried out by the forward stepwise method with Wald statistics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data of 328 preterm infants (<32 gestational weeks) or with a birth weight of less than 1500 g (<36 gestational weeks) born between January 2006 and December 2008 were analysed. A total of 15 were excluded due do death within the 1st month of life, 38 because of lost to follow-up and six due to incomplete data. Complete data of 269 preterm infants were retrospectively analysed. During the follow-up period of median 1.6 years, 50 infants developed one or more IH within their first 6 months of life. IH occurred in 40/181 patients with intrauterine exposure to the β-2-sympathomimetic hexoprenaline and in 10/88 without exposure (OR=4.3; 95% CI 1.4 to 13.8). Furthermore, the influence of antenatal exposure to glucocorticosteroids for induction of lung development was analysed. Prenatally exposed subjects showed reduced occurrence of IH (OR=0.2; 95% CI 0.05 to 0.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intrauterine exposure to the β-2-sympathomimetic hexoprenaline might increase the occurrence of IH in preterm infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Children's and Maternity Hospital Linz, Linz 4020, Austria. michael.mayer@gespag.at
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Minichmayr
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Klement
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hroncek
authors.forename: Dagmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wertaschnigg
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Arzt
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wiesinger-Eidenberger
authors.forename: Evelyn
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lechner
mesh_terms: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006594:Hexoprenaline / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000139:chemically induced; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015145:Tocolysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D015149:Tocolytic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D058666:Adrenergic beta-2 Receptor Agonists; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D015149:Tocolytic Agents; D006594:Hexoprenaline