Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy
of propranolol as a safe and
effective
line of treatment of different
head
and neck infantile hemangiomas.
Patients and methods: 13 cases
of head and neck infantile hemangiomas
with different localities. Propranolol
is started at 0.5 mg/kg/d in
3
divided doses for the first week.
Then,
the dose was increased to
be
1 mg/kg/d in 3 divided doses for
the
second week and finally doubled
to
be 2 mg/kg/d in 3 divided doses
which
is the maintenance dose continued
till the response become stationary
in the form of achieving the
maximum
regression of the lesion
or
till reaching the involution phase Results: Twelve cases showed no
serious adverse effects of propranolol.
Their mean age at the presentation
was 9.33 (range 2 – 22) months;
their
mean duration of administration
of
the drug at the maintenance dose
was
6 (range 2 – 10) months and
their
mean follow up period after the
stoppage
of the drug was 7.23
(range
5 – 9) months. Only one case
experienced
recurrent attacks of
asthmatiform
bronchitis after 8
weeks
of starting the treatment with
very
minimal regression of the lesion
and
did not complete the regimen.
Twelve
cases showed clinical improvement
of the lesion in the form
of
reduction of the size of the lesion
and
change of the color from intense red to purple with one of them developed
re-growth of the lesion after
stoppage
of the treatment by 4
months
later. No improvement was
reported
in one case.
Conclusion: Propranolol in a dose
of 2 mg/kg/d in 3 divided doses is a
valuable line of treatment of different
head and neck infantile hemangiomas
with safe profile.