ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the level of serum vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metalloproteinases-9 in the proliferative hemangioma before and after propranolol treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The serum VEGF, MMP-9 was detected with ELISA assay before treatment and after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of propranolol treatment. The relationship between the serum VEGF, MMP-9 and the prognosis was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum VEGF (295.4 +/- 158.1) pg/ml was high before treatment, then decreased after 4 weeks and 8 weeks of treatment (255.7 +/- 130.4) pg/ml, (224.2 +/- 120.6) pg/ml. The serum VEGF was significantly lower after 8 weeks of treatment (P < 0.05). The serum MMP-9 was also decreased after treatment, showing a positive relationship with VEGF.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Propranolol can treat the proliferative hemangioma through decreasing the serum VEGF and MMP-9.</p>