The impact of propranolol on the growth and development of children with proliferative infantile hemangioma during treatment

Oral propranolol has not been shown to impact physical development, such as weight and height. The impact of children’s intellectual development has received relatively little attention from researchers. The effects of propranolol on the growth and development of children with proliferative infantile hemangiomas during treatment were analyzed retrospectively. The children with infantile hemangioma treated with oral propranolol in the Department of Burn and Plastic Surgery, Fuzhou Children’s Hospital of Fujian Province, from February 2017 to May 2022 were analyzed. A uniform therapeutic regimen was applied, including assessment, treatment, and follow-up. The assessment included physical development and intellectual development indices. The physical development indices were height and weight. Neuropsychological assessment uses developmental quotient (DQ) to assess intelligence development. The DQs on months 3, 6, and 9 posttreatment were compared to the pretreatment. Wilcoxon rank sum test of paired samples was used for height and weight. The developmental quotient was determined by paired t test. P < .05 indicated significant difference. A total of 51 patients were enrolled. All children completed the treatment successfully, without severe adverse drug reactions leading to treatment discontinuation. There was no significant difference in height and weight before and after treatment (P > .05). No significant difference was detected in DQ 3 months posttreatment and pretreatment (P = .19), while it decreased at 6 and 9 months posttreatment (P < .05). Oral propranolol does not have an impact on physical development (height and weight). No short-term effect was found on intellectual development, but a decrease was noted over 6 months, which needs to be investigated further.