1. Introduction
Vascular anomalies are generally classified into two subgroups: vascular tumors (with endothelial proliferation) and vascular malformations (with normal endothelial growth) [1] . Infantile hemangioma is the most common benign tumor affecting 4% to 10% of whites, 14% of black, and 0.8% of Asian with a female-to-male ratio of 3:1 and predominance in premature infants and Caucasians. Most infantile hemangioma occurs in the head and neck regions [2] .
Infantile hemangioma is a disorder of aberrant proliferation and differentiation of primitive neural crest phenotypic cells [3] . They are potentially ruled by the renin-angiotensin system [4] - [7] .
Several regulators have been hypothesized the process of angiogenesis including the role of the vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) [6] .
Infantile hemangioma grows faster than the rate of the child during the (proliferating phase) first 9 months of age. The tumor begins to shrink (involuting phase) followed by a slow inevitable regression (involuted phase) [8] .
Although no intervention is required in most cases, functional and cosmetic impairment can sometimes necessitate urgent intervention. A great progress in treating these lesions has occurred, including the use of vincristine, interferon-alpha, systemic corticosteroids, pulsed dye laser, liquid nitrogen cryotherapy, and excisional surgery [9] - [12] .
Accidental discovery of accelerated involution of infantile hemangioma induced by propranolol has resulted in a recognized shift in the treatment of disfiguring proliferating infantile hemangioma. Its availability, great potency and lack of major side effects have been documented in succession [13] [14] . In this paper, oral propranolol was used in treating facial infantile hemangioma.
2. Patients and Methods
Fifteen patients who met the treatment criteria (Table 1) were admitted to plastic surgery center (Mansoura University Hospital, Mansoura, Egypt and King Salman Hospital (Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia) from March of 2012 until February of 2014.) All syndromic cases or hemangiomas associated with visceral lesions were excluded. Only cutaneous hemangiomas were included. Informed consent was obtained from all parents or guardians of children involved in the study. Separate consent for photography was taken from all parents or guardians of children involved in the study. Assessment of patient suitability for propranolol was performed as part of a multidisciplinary team including plastic surgeon, and pediatric cardiologist.
Parents received extensive counseling regarding likely outcomes and possible side effects following oral propranolol treatment as a part of fully informed consent. Data included age, sex, weight, lesion location, size, special investigations, and diagnosis according to clinical history (lesion appears during the first month and it grows rapidly than the growth of the child).
Oral propranolol was administered at (1 mg/kg/day) in the first week, increased in the 2nd week to (2 mg/kg/ day) till reaching the target dose (3 mg/kg/day) in the 3rd week. Treatment was stopped after a sustained plateau of the growth of the haemangioma (6 - 8 weeks). Drug was taken in three divided dose/day. Hospital stay was mandatory for a 24-hour during initiation of new dose therapy, with regular hemodynamic monitoring (pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate, electrocardiogram and echocardiogram). Oral propranolol was available in tablet form that was grinded and dissolved in normal saline according to the desired dose. Through syringe without a needle, the drug was put in mouth of infants. Indications for not giving any further dose are listed in (Table 2). Consideration could be given for a repeat course of propranolol therapy. All patients were treated in the proliferative phase.
![]()
Table 1. Inclusion and exclusion criteria.
![]()
Table 2. Indications for withholding treatment.
Clinical Evaluation
Regression in the size and fading in the color of hemangioma was clinically assessed by an independent physician. This was done before starting treatment as well as at each monthly follow-up visit.
3. Results
Patients’ demographic data and lesions’ data are collectively summarized (Table 3). In total, 15 children were treated with propranolol orally (Figures 1-4). The treatment lasted for a period of 3 to 4 months without major complications. After one week from reaching the target dose (3 mg/kg) a change in color was observed in 100%
of patients, and 2 weeks later, 50% decreased in diameter of the original lesion was found in half of patients. This may have been related to the thickness of the lesions and the age of the girls. Lesions have evoked dramatic color changes primarily from deep red to purple color, followed by a progressive lightening of hemangiomas color. On cessation of propranolol treatment and follow-up period, hemangiomas had become nearly flat and light in color. Three patients showed signs of palpitation and diarrhea at the beginning of treatment (first month) as reported by their parents. The girls were followed up for two years. No patient needed a second course.
4. Discussion
Propranolol as a beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist was discovered by Sir James W. Black. Accidently, a patient was treated with propranolol for cardiomyopathy showed involution of a proliferating hemangioma. Labreze reported the effect of propranolol on a child with a facial haemangioma. Since then many more studies have been reported [13] [14] .
Indeed, propranolol has other indications in plastic surgery both clinically and experimentally. Clinically, it was used for rhinoplasty patients who developed a stress in response to the shape of their nose [15] . Administration of a low dose of propranolol improves cutaneous wound healing in burned rats [16] .
The mechanism of action of propranolol in infantile hemangioma remains unknown. It has been postulated that hemangiomas regress by vasoconstriction, inhibition of angiogenesis, apoptosis, or a combination of all of these actions [17] .
Most infantile hemangiomas are observed early during the proliferative phase. In this series; all cases were managed in the early proliferative phase to limit its growth and functional distortion.
Tan and his colleagues [18] criticized the necessity to use the higher dose range and found a dose of 1.5 mg/kg/day was sufficient. Dose of propranolol was reported in the literature as 2 - 3 mg/kg/day, initially by the French scientists [13] and subsequently carried with some modifications by Liverpool researchers [19] . In this paper; propranolol dose was increased every week till reaching 3 mg/kg/day in three divided doses. In the absence of an evidence based medicine, I believed that propranolol administered in divided doses with gradual increase may add safety to avoid any major complications. No recurrence was observed along two years of follow up in this series.
In Egypt, propranolol is not available in a pharmaceutical formula appropriate for infants, and younger children less than 6 years [20] . It was prepared from tablets dissolved to suitable smaller dosages, which may complicate dose adaptation and drug administration. The tablets are available in 10 mg concentration.
First-line treatment for small hemangiomas is intralesional corticosteroid. Oral glucocorticoids and propranolol are reserved for tumors that are too large for injections [21] .
Both corticosteroid (Figure 5) and propranolol are equally neck by neck in the management of infantile he-
mangioma. However, propranolol is well tolerated and is known to have safety in children. In addition, propranolol can be used in non-responsive cases to corticosteroids. Moreover, the side effects of systemic corticosteroids are relatively common. Growth retardation is more common if treatment is started before 3 months of age or continued for 6 months or longer [22] .
Resection of a proliferating infantile hemangioma is not recommended because the tumor is highly vascular and the patient is at greater risk for blood loss, and an inferior aesthetic outcome [23] .
Hemangiomas of the nasal tip (Cyrano nose) are rare but can have a very profound psychological problem. Also, they give rise to definitive nasal deformations. Surgically, they are always removed incompletely to maintain the tip of the nose [24] . Actually, propanolol produced very promising results (Figure 2).
Regarding the management of lip haemangiomas, debulking strategy adopted by some authors offered excellent results [25] . Early treatment with propranolol may halt the need for surgery and its scars (Figure 3).
Although beta blockers have a good safety reputation in the treatment of young children, this may not be simply extrapolated to infants (some of whom are born prematurely) and young children with infantile hemangioma, who are otherwise normotensive [18] .
Side effects of propranolol include bradycardia, hypotension and hypoglycemia [26] . During this work, any child with cardiac and /or airway disease was excluded. Only three patients showed signs of palpitation and diarrhea that improved with time.
Ulceration is the most common complication of hemangioma, occurring in 15% of patients [27] . It is also associated with infection (16%) and bleeding (41%). Factors predisposing to ulceration include surface friction and maceration [28] . Several reports have described the beneficial effect of propranolol on ulcerated hemangioma [29] [30] . Fortunately, none of our cases were complicated by ulceration.
A limitation of this study is that large/problematic infantile haemangiomas are not present in the study and limited number of patients. However, tumour size did not influence involution of hemangioma in this series. Also, no radiological assessment was done by sonography or MRI. The aim was to find a cheap, effective and simple treatment not burden by additional investigations. Control group was not included as this study is a case series (evidence base: IV).
In summary, many options for treatments are effective for hemangioma. Their use has been masked by the effective use of propranolol, which causes rapid stoppage of proliferation and promotes decrease of disfiguring hemangioma. The discovery of the role of beta blockers in stem cell may lead to favorable outcome [31] .
5. Conclusion
On the basis of the limited evidence available, more patients with hemangiomas should be included for primary treatment with propranolol. In this study, oral propranolol was well tolerated, very cheap and proved to be a valuable tool for treatment of facial infantile hemangioma.
Ethical Standards
This study has been performed in accordance with the ethical standards set forth in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. Informed consent was obtained from all parents responsible for participants included in the study.
Disclosure
We do not have any financial interests or commercial associations to disclose.