title: Treatment of infantile hemangiomas with beta-blockers: a review.
abstract: Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common tumors occurring in early childhood, with a prevalence of approximately 5-10% of infants. While the natural history of IH is to spontaneously involute, a significant minority of IH require therapy with the aim to prevent disfigurement, functional impairment, or ulceration. In 2008, propranolol, a non-selective beta (β)-blocker, was reported to be highly effective in treating IH. Since that time there have been more than 200 articles published regarding the efficacy and potential toxicity of β-blockers, both systemic and topical, for the treatment of IH. Based on these finding, β-blockers appear to be highly effective in treating IH and are well tolerated, though side effects have been reported. When therapy is appropriately monitored, β-blockers have been proven to be a safer and superior alternative to systemic steroids.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Dermatology and Pediatrics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Ilona J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Frieden
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015995:Prevalence; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011433:Propranolol