Aim: Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common vascular tumors of infancy. Any treatment is not recommended to cases with İH without vital organ compression, bleeding, infection, ulceration and cosmetic problems. However, corticosteroids, propranolol, alpha-interferon, vincristine, laser surgery, or conventional surgery can be used to patients with mentioned problems in order to reduce tumor size and to eliminate complications.
Material and Methods: In this study, six IH patients who had functional impairment hemorrhage, and cosmetic problems were evaluated in terms of clinical findings and responses to propranolol treatment during 1.5-year period at our pediatric hematology clinic.
Results: Six children (5 female, 1 male; 2 months to 5 years old) were included in the study. After cardiologic evaluation, propranolol treatment was started with the dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day by evaluating levels of blood sugar, pulses and blood pressures at the hospital. If no side effects were observed, propranolol dose was increased to the dose of 2 mg/kg/day by second day, and the patients without any problem were discharged on the morning of the third day. Initially, patients were followed by weekly, and then biweekly and monthly. It was found that all hemangiomas started to regress in terms of color and thickness during the first 2 months of the treatment. No serious side effects were seen in any patients.
Conclusion: As a result, propranolol can be used safely as a first line treatment in IH with less side effects, well tolerability, and effectiveness.
Key Words: Infantile Hemangiomas; Propranolol; Treatment Response.
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