Article Text
Abstract
Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are benign vascular neoplasms resulting from the proliferation of endothelial vascular cells. They are characterized by unique natural course, with rapid growth in the first year of life (proliferation phase), followed by a slowdown in growth and regression (involution phase) that varies from one to ten years. The aim of the study is to present institutional experiences in the treatment of IH with propranolol. The study included 37 children with IH, treated at the Division of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Genetics of the Department of Pediatrics Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, in the period from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2017. Our results have confirmed that IH are more common in females. The majority is localized in the head area. They are mostly solitary lesions. The average diameter was 2,8 (± 1,4) cm. The average age at the start of the treatment with propranolol was 3,7 (± 1,1) months. The average duration of treatment was 10,1 (± 5.9) months. Propranolol is very effective in the treatment of IH, with complete regression achieved in 70,3% of children. Side effects are extremely rare (no one recorded in our study), but bear out the initiation of therapy in the hospital setting.