title: Oral propranolol for infantile hemangiomas: a prospective study on the role of 48-hour Holter monitoring in additional safety assessment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral propranolol has been recently approved for infantile hemangiomas (IHs), but potential side effects stay a challenge. We sought to make an additional assessment on oral propranolol safety for this indication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study included 108 infants consecutively treated for IHs at the University Children's Hospital Tirsova, Belgrade from January 2010 to December 2013. Propranolol was administered orally at a daily dose of 0.5 mg/kg and doubled every 48 hours in the absence of side effects until reaching the maximum dose of 2 mg/kg daily. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured every 48 hours with clinical observation. Heart rate was monitored by standard electrocardiogram (ECG) and 48-hour Holter ECG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant, but asymptomatic decreases in systolic blood pressure and heart rate recorded by Holter ECG were observed during the first doubling of dose and then remained stable. Arrhythmias were not detected. Despite mild sleep disturbance observed in 31% of infants in the hospital milieu, Holter monitoring indicated circadian rhythm maintenance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral propranolol for IHs does not remarkably affect heart rhythm including circadian variations throughout hospital initiation. Therefore, there is no necessity for Holter monitoring in additional safety assessment.
authors.affiliation: a Department for Cardiology , University Children's Hospital Tirsova , Belgrade , Serbia.|b Clinic for Cardiology , Clinical Center of Serbia , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Jelena
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.affiliation: c Department for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery , University Children's Hospital Tirsova , Belgrade , Serbia.|d Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Branislav
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trifunovic
authors.affiliation: a Department for Cardiology , University Children's Hospital Tirsova , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vukomanovic
authors.affiliation: a Department for Cardiology , University Children's Hospital Tirsova , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Topalovic
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.|e Institute for Medical Statistics and Informatics , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Goran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trajkovic
authors.affiliation: a Department for Cardiology , University Children's Hospital Tirsova , Belgrade , Serbia.|d Faculty of Medicine , University of Belgrade , Belgrade , Serbia.
authors.forename: Vojislav
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Parezanović
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D054796:Drug Dosage Calculations; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006391:Hemangioma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011433:Propranolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011433:Propranolol
keywords: Holter monitoring; Oral propranolol; infantile hemangiomas