Background: Propranolol is now widely used to treat severe infantile haemangiomas (IHs). Very few cases of propranolol-resistant IH (PRIH) are mentioned in the literature.
Objectives: To describe the characteristics of PRIHs.
Methods: A national, multicentre, retrospective, observational study was conducted from February 2011 to December 2011. All patients with PRIH evaluated by the members of the Groupe de Recherche Clinique en Dermatologie Pédiatrique from 1 January 2007 to 1 December 2011 were eligible.
Results: Among 1130 patients treated with propranolol for infantile haemangioma, 10 (0.9%) had PRIHs. Haemangioma propranolol resistance was observed at all ages during early childhood and at any proliferation stage.
Conclusions: PRIH is a rare phenomenon that raises questions and merits further investigation.
© 2013 British Association of Dermatologists.