No Increased Risks Associated with Propranolol Treatment for Infantile Hemangioma in Preterm Infants were Identified at 3 Years of Age.

Background: Concerns have been raised that propranolol treatment of infantile hemangioma (IH) may be associated with increased risks of adverse effects and growth impairment in preterm infants due to their immature development.

Objective: This study aimed to find out whether treatment of IH with propranolol in preterm infants is associated with higher incidences of long-term adverse effects and growth impairment in comparison with term infants.

Methods: The clinical data of 55 preterm infants and 180 term infants with IH treated with oral propranolol for 6 months were retrospectively collected and analyzed.

Results: The preterm and term patients did not differ significantly in terms of the general characteristics and adverse effect incidence (all p > 0.05). Height, weight, and head circumference of the preterm infants at ages 1, 2, and 3 years did not differ significantly from the normal references (all p > 0.05). In the term patients, only 1-year-old female weight and head circumference were significantly higher than the normal references (both p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Treatment of IH with propranolol for 6 months did not increase the risks for adverse effects or growth impairment up to age 3 years in preterm versus term patients in our study.