Infantile Hemangiomas Cleared by Combined Therapy With Pulsed Dye Laser and Propranolol

Dermatol Surg. 2021 Aug 1;47(8):1052-1057. doi: 10.1097/DSS.0000000000003018.

Abstract

Background: Oral propranolol is the first-line therapy for infantile hemangioma. Combining it with pulse dye laser (PDL) (595nm-long PDL) could reduce treatment duration and sequelae incidence and severity.

Objective: To determine the effect of PDL-propranolol treatment on duration to cure and sequelae.

Methods: All consecutive patients with infantile hemangioma who were cured by PDL-propranolol treatment were identified.

Results: In the 27 cases, average age at treatment start was 4.3 ± 3.8 months, mean tumor diameter was 11.1 ± 14.0 cm2, and tumor-type was most common (72.4% of lesions). The patients received 9.8 ± 10.5 PDL sessions. After ensuring patients had no physical contraindications, including heart disease, oral propranolol was started at 1 mg/kg/d, increased up to 3 mg/kg/d as a maintenance dose. Mean propranolol treatment duration was 11.1 ± 4.9 months. Total treatment duration was 15.3 ± 10.8 months.

Conclusion: Our data in the context of recent literature suggest combining propranolol with PDL may reduce propranolol duration without increasing harms.

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Cicatrix / epidemiology*
  • Cicatrix / etiology
  • Cicatrix / prevention & control
  • Cohort Studies
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Administration Schedule
  • Female
  • Hemangioma, Capillary / complications
  • Hemangioma, Capillary / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lasers, Dye / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Propranolol / administration & dosage*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Skin Neoplasms / complications
  • Skin Neoplasms / therapy*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Propranolol