This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Propranolol not associated with psychological problems at young age

Patients treated with propranolol for infantile hemangioma did not face an increased risk for psychological problems at age 7, according to study results recently published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The researchers in the Netherlands report that it has been suggested that propanol, a first-line treatment for infantile hemangioma, could affect the developing central nervous system of infants.

The researchers recruited 27 children with infantile hemangioma (age range, 6.1-.7.6 years; 70.4% females) who had been treated with propranolol for at least 6 months during infancy and did not have other developmental risk factors. Propranolol was started at the mean age of 6 months, with a mean duration of treatment of 12.3 months.

Questionnaires, including the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Social Emotional Questionnaire, Child Behavior Checklist and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire were completed by parents. Calculations were made of the number of patients with abnormal scores for each questionnaire.

One child (3.7%) had abnormal scores on executive functioning, behavioral problems, emotional and behavioral difficulties and autism. There was no correlation between Hemangioma Severity Scale and psychologic problems in the children.

There was a correlation between longer treatment duration and less attention-deficit hyperactive disorder characteristics (p = –0.476; P = .012) and better executive functioning (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function; p = –0.466; P =.014).

“This prospective study found no evidence of psychologic (social, emotional, behavioral, or executive) problems in 7-year-old patients who were treated with propranolol for [infantile hemangioma],” the researchers wrote. “One girl scored abnormally on several aspects of psychologic functioning. … The family history was positive for autistic spectrum disorders, which might better explain the deviant scores than propranolol treatment.”

“It is possible but unlikely that effects of propranolol on the central nervous system could become evident at a later age,” they concluded.  – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.