Abstract:

Wang Qi, Xiang Bo, Ji Yi, Li Fuyu, Xu Zhicheng, Zhong Lin Department of Pediatric Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China Corresponding author: Ji Yi, Email: jijiyuanyuan@163.com 【Abstract】 Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral propranolol versus atenolol in the treatment of infantile hemangioma （IH）. Methods A total of 75 infants with IH aged 5 - 24 weeks were randomly divided into two groups: propranolol group （n = 30） orally administrating propranolol 2 mg·kg-1·d-1 in 3 divided doses daily for 24 consecutive weeks, atenolol group （n = 45） orally administrating atenolol 1 mg·kg-1·d-1 once a day for 24 consecutive weeks. After 1-, 4-, 12-, 24-week treatment, the infants with IH were followed and adverse reactions were recorded. In addition, the activity of IH was assessed by hemangioma activity score （HAS） before and after 24-week treatment, and changes of HAS were compared between the propranolol group and atenolol group. Results There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients experiencing satisfactory regression of hemangioma between the propranolol group and atenolol group （70% ［21/30］ vs. 75.6% ［34/45］, P > 0.05）. Treatment failure occurred in one patient in the propranolol group because of severe airway hyperreactivity, and in another patient in the atenolol group because of drug resistance. The incidence rates of gastrointestinal reactions, central nervous system adverse effects, chills on the extremities and bronchiolitis complicated by airway hyperreactivity were all significantly higher in the propranolol group than in the atenolol group （all P < 0.05）. None of hypotension, hypoglycemia and bradycardia occurred in the two groups. Conclusion Compared with propranolol, atenolol shows similar efficacy but less adverse effects in the treatment of IH.