Beta blocker treatment for capillary haemangioma

1 February 2019 | Fiona Rowe (Prof) | Paediatric Ophthalmology / Strabismus

This randomised controlled trial of 25 patients aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combined oral and topical beta blockers for the treatment of superficial periocular infantile capillary haemangioma at the early proliferative stage. Group 1 (n=13) were given oral propranolol and timolol gel whilst group 2 (n=12) were given systemic treatment of oral propranolol and placebo ointment. Group 1 were aged 5.18±1.12 months at start of treatment, mean haemangioma activity score was 4.59±1.04 reducing to 1.52±1.36 with treatment duration of 6.92±1.12 months. Group 2 were aged 5.13±1.11 months at start of treatment, mean haemangioma activity score was 4.80±0.71 reducing to 3.40±0.84 with treatment duration of 7.53±1.11 months. There were no serious local or systemic adverse events. Both groups improved significantly but with more significant improvement for group 1 combined treatment.