Current drug therapies for infantile hemangioma: focused on beta blocker

ABSTRACT

Infantile hemangioma (IH), a common vascular tumor from vascular birth marks, used to be untreated due to its natural course of spontaneous regression with few exceptions like cosmetic disfigurement, functional or life impairment. It has been treated through a variety of methods like the topical and systemic corticosteroid, surgery, laser, etc. Among them, systemic corticosteroid, which has been used most commonly, may sometimes cause troublesome side effects such as temporary growth retardation or personality change, so it is often clinically inapplicable. Recently, however, it was reported that treatment using beta blocker for IH is more effective with fewer side effects than conventional treatments. Oral beta blocker has been used for IH patients who concerns about presenting ulcerative lesions, impending cosmetic sequelae or functional and life impairment. Before the administration of beta blocker, the patient goes through inquiry about clinical history, physical examination, electrocardiogram and echocardiography in order to determine the applicability. During the hospital stay, vital signs and blood glucose level are checked regularly to rule out side effects of beta blocker, and the dosage is increased gradually up to 2 mg/kg/day and the same dose is maintained continuously after discharge with same dosage. After considering many previous studies about beta blocker for IH patients, we reached an interim conclusion. The treatment of IH using beta blocker is effective, highly satisfactory and safe with no side effects though the selection from various beta blockers, evaluation methods of therapeutic efficacy and its duration and end point of treatment need to be confirmed.