Infantile Hemangioma Treated with Oral Propranolol: Case Presentation

Nahid Raufi,1,2 Arash Nemat3,4 1Department of Dermatology, Maiwand Hospital, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan; 2Department of Dermatology, Guangdong Provincial Dermatology Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Microbiology, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan; 4Department of Cardiology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Arash NematDepartment of Microbiology, Kabul University of Medical Sciences, 3rd District, Jamal Mina, Kabul, 1001, AfghanistanTel +93 706 717 987Email dr.arashnemat@yahoo.comAbstract: Infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are the most common vascular tumors in childhood. We report the use of propranolol to treat the growth phase of IHs. Propranolol was given to a 6-month-old infant who presented with a 4-cm sharply demarcated hemangioma on his left gluteal region. After relevant evaluation, propranolol was prescribed with a starting dose of 1 mg/kg/day, given in 3 divided doses. Vital signs were monitored during the first 6 hours of treatment. In the absence of side effects, treatment was continued at home with 2 mg/kg/day for six months, and the child was reevaluated after 7 days of treatment and then monthly. After one month, effects on color and growth were noted. Complete healing occurred in less than 6 months. Side effects and relapse were not reported. Propranolol administered orally at 2 mg/kg/day was successful, leading to near resolution of the patient’s hemangioma.Keywords: hemangioma, infantile hemangioma, propranolol, vascular tumor, beta-blocke