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Topical beta-blocker may reduce cutaneous infantile capillary hemangioma lesion size
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Off-label topical timolol maleate ophthalmic gel proved markedly more effective than observation in the treatment of non-vision-threatening cutaneous infantile capillary hemangiomas, a study found.
“Hemangiomas with a superficial component can be expected to respond well, but enlarging deep lesions likely require systemic treatment,” the study authors said.
The retrospective cohort study included 23 participants who presented with non-vision-threatening periocular infantile capillary hemangiomas. Thirteen children with a mean age of 4.8 months underwent treatment with twice-daily topical 0.25% timolol maleate; 10 children with a mean age of 3.7 months were observed and did not undergo treatment.
Investigators identified five superficial lesions, seven mixed lesions and one deep lesion in the treatment group, and four superficial lesions, five mixed lesions and one deep lesion in the observation group.
Responses to treatment at 2 months were classified either as good, with lesion size reduced more than 50%; moderate, with lesion size reduced 0 to 50%; or poor, with lesions being enlarged or causing visually significant ptosis or induced astigmatism.
Eight of 13 treated infants had a good response to treatment, four had moderate response and one had a poor response.
In the observation group, no participants had a good response, one had a moderate response and nine had a poor response.
Response to treatment was significantly better in the treatment group (P = .001).
Superficial and mixed lesions responded positively to treatment but the deep lesion did not.
No adverse systemic or ocular events were recorded, the authors said.
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