嬰幼兒血管瘤 (infantile hemangioma, iH) 是指內皮細胞會快速增生變大的血管腫瘤,但隨年齡增長瘤會消褪變小,於是醫師多採取保守觀察方式,不過較複雜的iH 不該只處於等待與觀察,是需要進一步介入治療。目前研究關於propranolol 用於複雜性iH 情況具有相當不錯的反應,但在治療iH 的最佳劑量和療程時間,目前研究還未完全確立。本文以案例討論方式,探討醫師使用低劑量之propranolol 於臨床反應,又兼顧居家服藥的安全考量,結果病人iH呈現穩定,而且在瘤的顏色上、質地上和生長停止方面有獲得改善,此效益與回顧文獻的結果相當。因此,病人在排除與propranolol 的相關禁忌後,給予合適劑量同時配合安全監測,老藥propranolol 除原有治療心血管疾病的角色外,在iH 治療領域上也得到令人意想不到的臨床效益。
infantile hemangioma (iH) means that the endothelial cells of blood vessels have rapid proliferation and growth followed by spontaneous regression during childhood. Although physicians prefer a conservative approach, some complications with iH can occur and should be acted on sooner through observation in case further interventional treatment is required. Current research on propranolol for complicated iH has an equally effective response, but the optimal dosage and therapy duration in iH have not been fully established. This article explores low dose propranolol usage and clinical responses to it. Concern for home usage and safety are discussed. The results showed that patients were steadily getting better and improved color, texture and aspect of growth arrest in iH with low dose propranolol. The efficacy was the same as with results from past medical literature. Therefore propranolol treatment for iH must be given in appropriate dosage and safety monitoring after the patients were excluded from relative contraindications to propranolol. the main role of the older version of the drug propranolol is usually used for treating cardiovascular disease, propranolol treatment for iH have also been striking clinical effects. Propranolol is an old drug traditionally used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease, its new therapeutic effect for the treatment of iH has been noticed to be further investigated.