Hypoglycemia in children taking propranolol for the treatment of infantile hemangioma. Arch Dermatol 2010 Jul;146(7):775-8
Date
07/21/2010Pubmed ID
20644039DOI
10.1001/archdermatol.2010.158Scopus ID
2-s2.0-77954828287 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 180 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Propranolol hydrochloride has been prescribed for decades in the pediatric population for a variety of disorders, but its effectiveness in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas (IHs) was only recently discovered. Since then, the use of propranolol for IHs has exploded because it is viewed as a safer alternative to traditional therapy.
OBSERVATIONS: We report the cases of 3 patients who developed symptomatic hypoglycemia during treatment with propranolol for their IHs and review the literature to identify other reports of propranolol-associated hypoglycemia in children to highlight this rare adverse effect.
CONCLUSIONS: Although propranolol has a long history of safe and effective use in infants and children, understanding and recognition of deleterious adverse effects is critical for physicians and caregivers. This is especially important when new medical indications evolve as physicians who may not be as familiar with propranolol and its adverse effects begin to recommend it as therapy.
Author List
Holland KE, Frieden IJ, Frommelt PC, Mancini AJ, Wyatt D, Drolet BAAuthors
Peter C. Frommelt MD Adjunct Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of WisconsinKristen E. Holland MD Associate Professor in the Dermatology department at Medical College of Wisconsin
MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Administration, OralAdrenergic beta-Antagonists
Blood Glucose
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hemangioma
Humans
Hypoglycemia
Infant
Propranolol
