title: Blood Pressure Monitoring During the Induction and Maintenance Period of Propranolol Therapy for Complicated Infantile Hemangiomas: A Prospective Study of 109 Infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Propranolol has become the first-line treatment for complicated infantile hemangiomas (CIHs) worldwide. Recommendations for monitoring infants undergoing propranolol therapy vary. Data on long-term blood pressure (BP) monitoring have not been reported before.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the current study was to monitor BP in full-term infants during the induction and maintenance phase of propranolol therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  BP was monitored prospectively in 109 infants (mean age 2.8 mos, range 1-5 mos) with CIHs during the induction (3-4 days in the hospital during up-dosing from 0.5 to 2.0 mg/kg/day) and maintenance (6 mos) phases of oral propranolol therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four children were excluded from the study because of sinus bradycardia (n = 2 [1.8%]) or lethargy (n = 2 [1.8%]). Mean systolic BP (SBP) decreased by 5 mmHg with the increase in propranolol dosage. Low (<5th percentile) SBP or diastolic BP (DBP) was observed in 2 of 105 children (1.9%) each. During the maintenance phase, 2 of 105 children (1.9%) had occasional SBP readings of less than 70 mmHg. No hypotension was observed after the third month of therapy. Low DBP (<36 mmHg) was recorded in 16 (15.2%) children after the first month, in 8.6% after the second, and in 2.9% during the third and fourth months of therapy. No patients exhibited clinical hypotension, bradycardia, or other known side effects of propranolol. Clinical response to therapy was excellent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reference BP values were derived from published tables, not from an untreated control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In healthy full-term infants, propranolol (2 mg/kg/day divided in three doses) is well tolerated. No clinically significant hypotension was observed. We conclude that for otherwise healthy infants, BP monitoring during long-term propranolol therapy for CIHs is not necessary.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic Children's Hospital Wilhelmstift, Hamburg, Germany.|Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Catholic Children's Hospital Wilhelmstift, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Meike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hengst
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Catholic Children's Hospital Wilhelmstift, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oelert
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Catholic Children's Hospital Wilhelmstift, Hamburg, Germany.|Department of Pediatric Dermatology, Catholic Children's Hospital Wilhelmstift, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Hoeger
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D018324:Hemangioma, Capillary / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male; D011433:Propranolol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011433:Propranolol