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Efficacy of Oral Prednisolone Use in the Treatment of Infantile Hemangiomas in Indian Children
Author(s) -
Grover Chander,
Kedar Ashwini,
Arora Pooja,
Lal Brahmanand
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
pediatric dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.542
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1525-1470
pISSN - 0736-8046
DOI - 10.1111/j.1525-1470.2011.01491.x
Subject(s) - medicine , prednisolone , adverse effect , incidence (geometry) , infantile hemangioma , surgery , hemangioma , anesthesia , pediatrics , physics , optics
Approximately 10% to 15% of patients with infantile hemangioma (IH) require treatment that needs to be individualized according to the size, location, and type of IH. Oral corticosteroids [CS] have been the mainstay of therapy, but dose and duration of therapy have been variably reported in literature. The possible side effects with high dose CS is a constant deterrant. Twenty infants with IH requiring therapy were treated with prednisolone at a dose of 3 to 4 mg/kg/day. Response to therapy, adverse effects, and risk of rebound growth were monitored. All of the treated lesions responded to prednisolone at 3.1 mg/kg/day given for a mean duration of 9.16 weeks by showing a cessation of active growth; 90% of patients showed partial to excellent response (Grade 2 to Grade 4 improvement). In the remaining 10% of patients there was <25% regression in the lesion. The total duration of therapy with tapering doses was 29.9 weeks. No cases of rebound growth were seen. The incidence of adverse effects was low, with one patient developing CS‐induced hypertension (5%). Oral CS, given at appropriate doses, are a reasonably safe and highly efficacious treatment modality for IH. To prevent the risk of rebound growth, adequate prolongation of therapy is required.