title: Assessment of the effectiveness of topical propranolol 4% gel for infantile hemangiomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common vascular tumors in children. Because of their benign character and natural involution, the vast majority of IHs do not require any treatment. In the past few years, topical beta blockers have been reported to be an effective treatment of superficial IHs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety profile of topical propranolol 4% gel for the treatment of IHs.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of all cases of IHs treated with topical propranolol 4% gel between 2013 and 2015 was performed. All patients were evaluated in a pediatric dermatology unit of a tertiary medical center. Epidemiologic, clinical, and treatment data, including effectiveness score and safety, were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 63 patients with a total of 75 IHs. Of the total number of IHs, 43 (57.3%) showed a good response to treatment, 19 (25.3%) a partial response, and 13 (17.33%) poor or no response, thus 62 (82.6%) had good or partial response to treatment. Age at treatment initiation, treatment time, thickness of the superficial component, and size of the lesions were shown to predict response to therapy. Out of the entire examined group, only two patients reported minor local side effects manifested by irritation, redness, and scaling of the treated area. No systemic adverse effects were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is an uncontrolled retrospective study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Propranolol 4% gel is a safe and efficient topical therapy for IH.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9417-2932
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mashiah
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kutz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Reference Center for Genodermatoses and Rare Skin Diseases (MAGEC), Institut Imagine, Hôpital Universitaire Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France.|INSERM U781, Institut Imagine, Paris, France.|Université Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Smail Hadj
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Rabia
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Efrat Bar
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Ilan
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Department of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.|Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Eli
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sprecher
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Dermatology Unit, Dana Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Avikam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Harel
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000367:Age Factors; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D018324:Hemangioma, Capillary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009386:Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D005782:Gels; D011433:Propranolol