title: Management of infantile hemangiomas: current trends.
abstract: Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are common vascular tumours. IH have a characteristic natural course. They proliferate rapidly during the early infantile period followed by a period of gradual regression over several years. Most of the uncomplicated IH undergo spontaneous involution, with a small proportion of cases requiring intervention. These are children with IH in life-threatening locations, local complications like haemorrhage, ulceration and necrosis and functional or cosmetic disfigurements. Systemic corticosteroids have been the first line of treatment for many years. Recently, non-selective beta-blockers, such as oral propranalol and topical timolol, have emerged as promising and safer therapies. Other treatment options include interferon α and vincristine which are reserved for life-threatening haemangiomas that are unresponsive to conventional therapy. This review mainly focuses on the current trends and evidence-based approach in the management of IH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Gomathy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sethuraman
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vamsi K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Yenamandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Venereology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gupta
keywords: Infantile hemangioma; propranolol; pulsed dye laser; steroids; timolol