Safety of Prior Propranolol Therapy for Infantile Hemangioma

Propranolol has been the primary treatment for infantile hemangioma (IH) since 2008. Prior studies have investigated the effects in late childhood of propranolol therapy given in infancy for IH, including neurocognitive dysfunction, sleep disorders, and hypoglycemia. However, few studies have determined the risk of these adverse effects later in life. Using the TrinetX database, we studied the risk of growth impairment, sleep disorders, learning disabilities, and diabetes mellitus in children aged 10-17 years who had received propranolol for IH in infancy. The maximum age of 17 years was chosen for the study, as propranolol was established as a treatment for IH in 2008. The results showed no statistically significant risk of growth impairment, sleep disorders, learning disabilities, or diabetes mellitus in IH patients treated with propranolol. These findings support existing evidence that propranolol therapy given in infancy for IH is not associated with long-term adverse effects up to age 17 years in the studied patient population.