Corticosteroids With Placebo Versus Corticosteroids With Propranolol Treatment of Infantile Hemangiomas (IH)

A Phase II, Randomized, Double-Blind Comparison of Corticosteroid and Corticosteroids With Propranolol Treatment of Infantile Hemangiomas (IH)

This is a prospective randomized, double-blind study to compare the clinical efficacy of infantile hemangioma treatment using propranolol with corticosteroids as compared to therapy with corticosteroids and placebo. We hypothesize that a two-month treatment period with propranolol plus corticosteroids is more effective at reducing infantile hemangioma size and vascularity when compared to corticosteroids used without propranolol for the same time period.

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are the most common head and neck pediatric tumors. Presence of these tumors can lead to complications of vision and airway compromise, bleeding and disfigurement. Medical treatment of these lesions has traditionally been focused on stopping new blood vessel growth with corticosteroids. Recent reports and our own experience have demonstrated that significant reduction in IH size and vascularity can also occur through the use of propranolol. Our initial experience with propranolol has demonstrated significant efficacy with fewer side effects than corticosteroids. Despite this experience, the standard of care for initial IH medical therapy remains corticosteroids.

This Trial is a direct comparison of traditional IH therapy with corticosteroids to newer therapy with propranolol and corticosteroids.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 0 to < 9months
• Patients with clinical, radiographic or histologic diagnosis of infantile hemangioma (IH) requiring medical treatment
• IH patients whose parents desire medical treatment for the IH
• Stable cardiac function

Exclusion Criteria:

• IH patients over 9 months of age.
• Hypersensitivity to propranolol
• Untreated heart failure: If the patient has heart failure associated with the hemangioma, propranolol would be initiated after anti-congestive therapy and under observation as an in-patient.
• Atrioventricular (AV) block
• Resting heart < 2 SD of normal*(below)
• Resting blood pressure < 2 SD of normal**(below)
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW)
• History of unexplained syncope
• Bronchial asthma
• History of impaired renal or liver function
• Diabetes mellitus