Double-blind randomized pilot trial evaluating the efficacy of oral propranolol on infantile haemangiomas in infants < 4 months of age

Does Therapeutic Repurposing in Cancer Meet the Expectations of Having Drugs at a Lower Price?

Therapeutic repurposing emerged as an alternative to the traditional drug discovery and development model (DDD) of new molecular entities (NMEs). It was anticipated that by being faster, safer, and cheaper, the development would result in lower-cost drugs. As defined in this work, a repurposed cancer drug is one approved by a health regulatory authority against a non-cancer indication that then gains new approval for cancer. With this definition, only three drugs are repurposed for cancer: Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine (superficial bladder cancer, thalidomide [multiple myeloma], and propranolol [infantile hemangioma]). Each of these has a different history regarding price and affordability, and it is not yet possible to generalize the impact of drug repurposing on the final price to the patient. However, the development, including the price, does not differ significantly from an NME. For the end consumer, the product's price is unrelated to whether it followed the classical development or repurposing. Economic constraints for clinical development, and drug prescription biases for repurposing drugs, are barriers yet to be overcome. The affordability of cancer drugs is a complex issue that varies from country to country. Many alternatives for having affordable drugs have been put forward, however these measures have thus far failed and are, at best, palliative. There are no immediate solutions to the problem of access to cancer drugs. It is necessary to critically analyze the impact of the current drug development model and be creative in implementing new models that genuinely benefit society.

Bleomycin-triamcinolone sclerotherapy in the management of propranolol resistant infantile hemangioma of the maxillofacial region: A single arm prospective evaluation of clinical outcome and Doppler ultrasound parameters

INTRODUCTION

Propranolol has emerged as a first line agent in the management of hemangiomas. With increased use of propranolol, studies have also focused on relapses following propranolol therapy. Our current study evaluates the role of bleomycin triamcinolone sclerotherapy for the management of propranolol resistant Infantile Hemangioma (IH). We also evaluated the role color Doppler USG for response assessment of sclerotherapy.

METHODS

Patients with Propranolol resistant (Non- responders/ Partial responders) IHs were included in the study. Patients received intralesional bleomycin at a dose of 0.5 IU/kg followed by intralesional injection of triamcinolone at a dose of 2mg/kg body weight. Clinically patients were grouped into excellent, partial and non responders. Doppler parameters; Resistivity index (RI), Pulsatility index(PI) and Peak systolic velocity (PSV) were used to evaluate the response to sclerotherapy. These parameters were evaluated prior to sclerotherapy and 3 months following completion of therapy. The clinical responses of the patients were compared with the change in Doppler parameters before and after treatment.

RESULTS

A total of 115 participants were considered for analysis; 60.86% had excellent response, 32.17% had partial response and 6.95% had poor response. There was a significant change in terms of RI, PI and PSV in patients who were either excellent or partial responders. Poor responders did not have a significant change in Doppler parameters.

CONCLUSION

Combined bleomycin- triamcinolone sclerotherapy is an effective therapy for the management of propranolol resistant IHs. Doppler parameters RI, PI and PSV are reliable indicators of response in the management of IH.

Safety and efficacy of propranolol for treatment of familial cerebral cavernous malformations (Treat_CCM): a randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint, phase 2 pilot trial

BACKGROUND

Observations in people with cerebral cavernous malformations, and in preclinical models of this disorder, suggest that the β-blocker propranolol might reduce the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of prolonged treatment with propranolol to reduce the incidence of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage or focal neurological deficit in people with familial cerebral cavernous malformations.

METHODS

We conducted a randomised, open-label, blinded-endpoint, phase 2 pilot trial (Treat_CCM) at six national reference centres for rare diseases in Italy. People aged 18 years or older with symptomatic familial cerebral cavernous malformation were eligible for enrolment. Participants were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive either oral propranolol (20-320 mg daily) plus standard care (intervention group), or standard care alone (control group), for 24 months. Participants, caregivers, and investigators were aware of treatment group assignment. Participants had clinical assessments and 3 T brain MRI at baseline and at 12 and 24 months. The primary outcome was new occurrence of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage or focal neurological deficit attributable to cerebral cavernous malformation over 24 months. Outcome assessors were masked to treatment group assignment. The primary analysis was done in the intention-to-treat population. Because of the pilot study design, we chose a one-sided 80% CI, which could either exclude a clinically meaningful effect or show a signal of efficacy. This trial is registered with EudraCT, 2017-003595-30, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03589014, and is closed to recruitment.

FINDINGS

Between April 11, 2018, and Dec 5, 2019, 95 people were assessed for eligibility and 83 were enrolled, of whom 57 were assigned to the propranolol plus standard care group and 26 to the standard care alone group. The mean age of participants was 46 years (SD 15); 48 (58%) were female and 35 (42%) were male. The incidence of symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage or focal neurological deficit was 1·7 (95% CI 1·4-2·0) cases per 100 person-years (two [4%] of 57 participants) in the propranolol plus standard care group and 3·9 (3·1-4·7) per 100 person-years (two [8%] of 26) in the standard care alone group (univariable hazard ratio [HR] 0·43, 80% CI 0·18-0·98). The univariable HR showed a signal of efficacy, according to predefined criteria. The incidence of hospitalisation did not differ between groups (8·2 cases [95% CI 7·5-8·9] per 100 person-years in the propranolol plus standard care group vs 8·2 [95% CI 7·1-9·3] per 100 person-years in the standard care alone group). One participant in the standard care alone group died of sepsis. Three participants in the propranolol plus standard care group discontinued propranolol due to side-effects (two reported hypotension and one reported weakness).

INTERPRETATION

Propranolol was safe and well tolerated in this population. Propranolol might be beneficial for reducing the incidence of clinical events in people with symptomatic familial cerebral cavernous malformations, although this trial was not designed to be adequately powered to investigate efficacy. A definitive phase 3 trial of propranolol in people with symptomatic familial cerebral cavernous malformations is justified.

FUNDING

Italian Medicines Agency, Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Swedish Science Council, Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, CARIPLO Foundation, Italian Ministry of Health.

Immediate possible adverse event rates in infants treated with oral propranolol for infantile haemangiomas at an Australian urban tertiary hospital between 2016 and 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Infantile haemangiomas (IH) are common benign tumours of childhood. The current guideline recommended treatment is oral propranolol, the use of which for IH is relatively recent and there are no safety audits in Australian children published. As a result, it is a primarily inpatient initiated treatment. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term complication rates in infants treated with oral propranolol for IH.

METHODS

Retrospective case note review of IH patients initiated on oral propranolol admitted to the day-unit of tertiary metropolitan hospital in an Australia capital city, from January 2016 to December 2019.

RESULTS

Overall, 72 children were included in the study. Mean age at time of admission was 3.8 ± 2 months. Eight patients (11.1%) experienced complications during their initiation admission. Pulmonary complications (oxygen desaturation, wheeze, increased respiratory rate) was the most common type. No children required high-dependency or intensive care unit admission. The children who experienced complications had a mean age of 2.4 ± 1.2 months; t-test of equality of means found a relationship between propranolol-associated complication rate and age (p = 0.007). All other patient or admission characteristics were not associated with complication events (all p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Propranolol is a safe, effective and well-tolerated treatment in Australian children with IH. This study demonstrates younger infants will most likely benefit from inpatient initiation. More research needs to be done to characterise the risk profile of propranolol initiation for IH.

Propranolol: A “Pick and Roll” Team Player in Benign Tumors and Cancer Therapies

Research on cancer therapies focuses on processes such as angiogenesis, cell signaling, stemness, metastasis, and drug resistance and inflammation, all of which are influenced by the cellular and molecular microenvironment of the tumor. Different strategies, such as antibodies, small chemicals, hormones, cytokines, and, recently, gene editing techniques, have been tested to reduce the malignancy and generate a harmful microenvironment for the tumor. Few therapeutic agents have shown benefits when administered alone, but a few more have demonstrated clear improvement when administered in combination with other therapeutic molecules. In 2008 (and for the first time in the clinic), the therapeutic benefits of the β-adrenergic receptor antagonist, propranolol, were described in benign tumors, such as infantile hemangioma. Propranolol, initially prescribed for high blood pressure, irregular heart rate, essential tremor, and anxiety, has shown, in the last decade, increasing evidence of its antitumoral properties in more than a dozen different types of cancer. Moreover, the use of propranolol in combination therapies with other drugs has shown synergistic antitumor effects. This review highlights the clinical trials in which propranolol is taking part as adjuvant therapy at single administration or in combinatorial human trials, arising as a good pick and roll partner in anticancer strategies.

The Role of Propranolol as a Repurposed Drug in Rare Vascular Diseases

Rare Diseases (RD) are defined by their prevalence in less than 5 in 10,000 of the general population. Considered individually, each RD may seem insignificant, but together they add up to more than 7000 different diseases. Research in RD is not attractive for pharmaceutical companies since it is unlikely to recover development costs for medicines aimed to small numbers of patients. Since most of these diseases are life threatening, this fact underscores the urgent need for treatments. Drug repurposing consists of identifying new uses for approved drugs outside the scope of the original medical indication. It is an alternative option in drug development and represents a viable and risk-managed strategy to develop for RDs. In 2008, the “off label” therapeutic benefits of propranolol were described in the benign tumor Infantile Hemangioma. Propranolol, initially prescribed for high blood pressure, irregular heart rate, essential tremor, and anxiety, has, in the last decade, shown increasing evidence of its antiangiogenic, pro-apoptotic, vasoconstrictor and anti-inflammatory properties in different RDs, including vascular or oncological pathologies. This review highlights the finished and ongoing trials in which propranolol has arisen as a good repurposing drug for improving the health condition in RDs.

Medical Management of Infantile Hemangiomas: An Update

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common benign vascular tumor of infancy, affecting about 5% of infants. It has a characteristic growth pattern of early rapid proliferation followed by progressive involution. Although most IH evolve favorably, complications are observed in 10-15% of cases, justifying treatment. For over 10 years now, propranolol has become the first-line therapy for complicated IH, revolutionizing their management and their prognosis. In this article, we review the clinical features, associations, complications/sequelae and therapeutic approaches for IH, focusing on current medical therapy. Indications for treatment and various treatment options, including propranolol and other oral β-blockers, topical timolol, and corticosteroids are presented. Current controversies regarding oral propranolol such as pre-treatment screening, in- vs out-patient initiation of treatment, early and potential long-term side effects and recommended monitoring are discussed.

Infantile Hemangiomas Cleared by Combined Therapy With Pulsed Dye Laser and Propranolol

BACKGROUND

Oral propranolol is the first-line therapy for infantile hemangioma. Combining it with pulse dye laser (PDL) (595nm-long PDL) could reduce treatment duration and sequelae incidence and severity.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of PDL-propranolol treatment on duration to cure and sequelae.

METHODS

All consecutive patients with infantile hemangioma who were cured by PDL-propranolol treatment were identified.

RESULTS

In the 27 cases, average age at treatment start was 4.3 ± 3.8 months, mean tumor diameter was 11.1 ± 14.0 cm2, and tumor-type was most common (72.4% of lesions). The patients received 9.8 ± 10.5 PDL sessions. After ensuring patients had no physical contraindications, including heart disease, oral propranolol was started at 1 mg/kg/d, increased up to 3 mg/kg/d as a maintenance dose. Mean propranolol treatment duration was 11.1 ± 4.9 months. Total treatment duration was 15.3 ± 10.8 months.

CONCLUSION

Our data in the context of recent literature suggest combining propranolol with PDL may reduce propranolol duration without increasing harms.

Ultrasound and MRI findings as predictors of propranolol therapy response in patients with infantile hemangioma

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prognostic value of ultrasound and MRI findings in patients with infantile hemangioma undergoing propranolol therapy.

METHODS

This study was based on retrospective interpretation of prospectively acquired data. Thirty-eight consecutive patients (28 females and 10 males; mean age ± standard deviation, 3.2 ± 2.2 months) who underwent propranolol treatment for infantile hemangioma were included. Pre-treatment ultrasound images were assessed in terms of echogenicity, lesion height and vascularity. Presence of prominent intratumoral fat, non-fat septa, and enhancement pattern on MRI were retrospectively evaluated. Mann-Whitney test, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare imaging parameters between patients with treatment success and failure.

RESULTS

All patients underwent ultrasound and 15 patients underwent MRI. A total of 24 patients showed successful treatment. Between patients with treatment success and failure, there were significant differences in increased vascularity on pre-treatment ultrasound (19/24 vs. 6/14, p = 0.025), decreased vascularity on post-treatment ultrasound (21/24 vs. 5/14, p = 0.001), and prominent intratumoral fat on MRI (1/8 vs. 5/7 p = 0.033). There were no significant differences in echogenicity, lesion height on ultrasound, non-fat septa and MR enhancement pattern.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased vascularity on pre-treatment ultrasound was significantly associated with successful treatment for propranolol therapy in patients with infantile hemangioma, whereas prominent fat component on MRI was significantly associated with treatment failure.

Hemangiol in infantile haemangioma: A paediatric post-marketing surveillance drug study

AIM

Infantile haemangioma (IH) is the most common benign tumour in children. Since 2014, propranolol has become the first-choice therapy and currently Hemangiol is the only approved drug for complicated haemangioma. This post-marketing study reports the use of Hemangiol for IH in paediatric practice.

METHOD AND RESULTS

From January 2014 to November 2018, 94 children (median age 4 [0; 21] months; 75% female) treated with Hemangiol for proliferative IH were enrolled in the study. The systematic paediatric cardiology consultation never contraindicated beta-blockers. Two Hemangiol initiation protocols were used: a conventional ambulatory 3-week titration phase protocol (n = 76, 80.9%), and a rapid initiation protocol with a 48-hour dose escalation in conventional hospitalization for severe proliferative or ulcerated IH (n = 18, 19.1%). In both protocols, the haemodynamic tolerance was good. The mean maintenance dose of Hemangiol was 2.7 ± 0.8 mg/kg/day, with a median treatment duration of 7 [1.5; 19] months. Adverse events (AEs) have been found in 25 (26,6%) patients, including 8 (8.5%) patients with serious AEs (uncontrolled bronchial hyperreactivity, n = 5; serious hypoglycaemia, n = 3). Some patients had one or more AEs, a total of 24 nonserious AEs was reported in 19 patients (sleep disturbances, n = 9; respiratory disorders, n = 5; digestive disorders, n = 6). No cardiac adverse event was reported.

CONCLUSION

This post-marketing surveillance drug study supports the good tolerance of Hemangiol in children with IH. A rapid initiation protocol is of interest when treatment is urgent. The pretherapeutic paediatric cardiology consultation should not be systematic but only indicated for specific patients. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT04105517.

Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular anomalies 2017

The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety, and systematizing treatment, employing evidence-based medicine (EBM) techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes. Clinical questions (CQs) were decided based on the important clinical issues. For document retrieval, key words for literature searches were set for each CQ and literature published from 1980 to the end of September 2014 was searched in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina (JCRM). The strengths of evidence and recommendations acquired by systematic reviews were determined following the Medical Information Network Distribution System (MINDS) technique. A total of 33 CQs were used to compile recommendations and the subjects included efficacy of resection, sclerotherapy/embolization, drug therapy, laser therapy, radiotherapy, and other conservative treatment, differences in appropriate treatment due to the location of lesions and among symptoms, appropriate timing of treatment and tests, and pathological diagnosis deciding the diagnosis. Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 have been prepared as the evidence-based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.

A new clinical and dermoscopic monitoring of infantile hemangiomas treated with oral propranolol

Oral propranolol (OP) demonstrated high efficacy and safety profile for treatment of critical infantile hemangiomas (IHs). Our aim was to assess the morphologic changes of IHs with standard and high-resolution video dermoscopy (HRVD) from baseline to 18 months either in presence or absence of OP therapy; to investigate if extended anamnestic perinatal data and clinical-dermoscopic characteristics of the IHs can correlate with therapeutic outcome. We enrolled 94 patients (112 IHs): 58 were treated with OP, 35 (42 IHs) for 6 months (group 1), and 23 (25 IHs) for 12-months (group 2); 36 (45 IHs) were followed-up. Clinical-dermoscopic examinations were performed every 3 months during therapy and follow-up. Among 67 treated IHs, superficial and deep IHs with homogenous clinical-dermoscopic aspect developed after the 2 weeks of life achieved the better outcome, stable at 9-month follow-up, independently form treatment duration. Under HRVD, glomerular vessels were prevalent at baseline; corckscrew, comma, and linear-irregular vessels were the prevalent pattern at 1, 3, and 6 months of therapy, respectively. At 12-month follow-up, adequate healing was achieved by 96% of IHs in group 2 and by 78% in group 1, showing dotted vessels. Persistent IHs displayed a reticulated aspect and linear irregular vessels, while arborizing vessels characterized relapsed IHs. A 12-month OP therapy can be considered for newborns presenting with nonhomogenous mixed IHs >3 cm on the perineal area/lower extremities. In conclusion, HRVD allows a real time monitoring of vascular changes in IHs treated with OP and can support physicians in identifying relapses before they become clinically evident.

The efficacy and safety of treatments for infantile hemangiomas: a Bayesian network meta-analysis

Whether infantile hemangiomas (IHs) need to be treated and which treatment should be preferred are still controversial. We aimed to compare and rank the treatments and identify the optimal treatment for IHs. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and other sources for randomized controlled trials up to August 2019. We included trials comparingdifferent treatments and reported response or adverse events rate in IH patients. Two reviewers independently evaluated studies by specific criteria and extracted data. We assessed the risk of bias with the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Random-effects were performed for pair-to-pair and Bayesian framework network meta-analyses. The primary outcomes were efficacy and safety. We deemed 20 studies eligible, including 1149 participants and eight interventions. For efficacy, oral propranolol and topical propranolol/timolol were better than observation/placebo (OR, 95% CrI: 17.05, 4.02-94.94; 9.72, 1.91-59.08). For safety, topical propranolol/timolol was significantly better tolerated than oral propranolol (0.05, 0.001-0.66). Cluster analysis demonstrated oral propranolol was the most effective treatment for IHs, while topical propranolol/timolol showed high efficacy and the highest safety. Laser, intralesional propranolol or glucocorticoid, oral glucocorticoid, or captopril had significantly lower priority than oral propranolol or topical propranolol/timolol considering both efficacy and safety. The quality of evidence was rated as moderate or low in most comparisons. This network meta-analysis found topical beta-blockers had the potential to be the most preferable and beneficial option for IHs in consideration of both efficacy and safety.

Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017

The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety and systematizing treatment, employing evidence‐based medicine techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes. Clinical questions (CQ) were decided based on the important clinical issues. For document retrieval, key words for published work searches were set for each CQ, and work published from 1980 to the end of September 2014 was searched in PubMed, Cochrane Library and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina databases. The strengths of evidence and recommendations acquired by systematic reviews were determined following the Medical Information Network Distribution System technique. A total of 33 CQ were used to compile recommendations and the subjects included efficacy of resection, sclerotherapy/embolization, drug therapy, laser therapy, radiotherapy and other conservative treatment, differences in appropriate treatment due to the location of lesions and among symptoms, appropriate timing of treatment and tests, and pathological diagnosis deciding the diagnosis. Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 have been prepared as the evidence‐based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.

Influence of Cytochrome P450 2D6 Polymorphisms on the Efficacy of Oral Propranolol in Treating Infantile Hemangioma

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate the association of genetic polymorphisms in Cytochrome P450 2D6(CYP2D6) and the change in VEGF levels with the response to propranolol in patients with Infantile hemangiomas (IH).

Methods

IH patients who underwent over six months of propranolol therapy and received oral propranolol only were enrolled. The target dose of propranolol was 1 mg kg^-1day^-1. Deoxyribonucleic acid was obtained from venous blood leukocytes. Genotypes of CYP2D6 (rs1065852 and rs1135840) were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and by sequencing the products. Baseline serum VEGF and serum VEGF one month after treatment were measured. The clinical responses after six months of treatment were evaluated. Genotypes of CYP2D6 (rs1065852 and rs1135840) and VEGF levels were compared between good responders and poor-to-moderate responders.

Results

72 patients were enrolled in the study. Patients with CYP2D6 (rs1135840) G/G homozygote had the highest response rate to propranolol. No significant association was found between the response rates and CYP2D6 (rs1065852) polymorphism. No significant differences were found in baseline serum VEGF, serum VEGF one month after treatment, and VEGF ratio between good responders and poor-to-moderate responders.

Conclusion

The response to propranolol treatment in IH patients was associated with the gene polymorphism of CYP2D6 (rs1135840). A low-dose propranolol regimen was effective and safe in young infants with IH. The change of serum VEGF levels after one month's treatment could not be used to predict the response rate to propranolol.

Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular anomalies 2017

The objective was to prepare guidelines to perform the current optimum treatment by organizing effective and efficient treatments of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, confirming the safety, and systematizing treatment, employing evidence-based medicine (EBM) techniques and aimed at improvement of the outcomes. Clinical questions (CQs) were decided based on the important clinical issues. For document retrieval, key words for literature searches were set for each CQ and literature published from 1980 to the end of September 2014 was searched in Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Japana Centra Revuo Medicina (JCRM). The strengths of evidence and recommendations acquired by systematic reviews were determined following the Medical Information Network Distribution System (MINDS) technique. A total of 33 CQs were used to compile recommendations and the subjects included efficacy of resection, sclerotherapy/embolization, drug therapy, laser therapy, radiotherapy, and other conservative treatment, differences in appropriate treatment due to the location of lesions and among symptoms, appropriate timing of treatment and tests, and pathological diagnosis deciding the diagnosis. Thus, the Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017 have been prepared as the evidence-based guidelines for the management of vascular anomalies.

Central Nervous System Effects of Oral Propranolol for Infantile Hemangioma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Concerns about the effects of propranolol on the central nervous system (CNS) in the infantile hemangioma (IH) population have been raised. We conducted a meta-analysis of the CNS and sleep-related effects of oral propranolol in IH patients. PubMed, Embase, Cochrance, Web of Science, and Clinicaltrials.gov were searched for relevant studies. We included clinical trials that compared oral propranolol with other treatments among IH patients under 6 years old and monitored and reported any adverse events. Study characteristics, types and number of adverse events were abstracted. Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess risk of bias. Our main outcomes were CNS and sleep-related effects. Random-effects models were used to estimate the pooled risk ratio. We did not observe statistically significant associations between oral propranolol and CNS or sleep-related effects. Oral propranolol appeared to have a safer profile of CNS effects than corticosteroids (RR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.02⁻3.00), but had an increased risk versus non-corticosteroids (for CNS effect, RR = 1.40, 95% CI 0.86⁻2.27; for sleep-related effects, RR = 1.63, 95% CI 0.88⁻3.03). Despite no statistically significant associations, there were suggestive findings of increased CNS effects and sleep-related risk of propranolol versus non-corticosteroids. In practice, CNS and sleep-related events should be monitored more closely among IH patients treated with oral propranolol.

Interventions for infantile haemangiomas of the skin: abridged Cochrane systematic review and GRADE assessments

BACKGROUND

Infantile haemangiomas (IH) are soft swellings of the skin that occur in 3-10% of infants. When haemangiomas occur in high-risk areas or when complications develop, active intervention is necessary.

OBJECTIVE

To update a Cochrane Review assessing the interventions for the management of IH in children.

METHODS

We searched for randomized controlled trials in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, AMED, PsycINFO, CINAHL and six trials registers up to February 2017. We included 28 trials (1728 participants) assessing 12 interventions.

RESULTS

We downgraded evidence from high to moderate/low for issues related to risk of bias and imprecision. Oral propranolol (3 mg kg^-1 daily) probably improves clinician-assessed clearance vs placebo [risk ratio (RR) 16·61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4·22-65·34; moderate quality of evidence (QoE)]; we found no evidence of a difference in terms of serious adverse events (RR 1·05, 95% CI 0·33-3·39; low QoE). We found the chance of reduction of redness may be improved with topical timolol maleate (0·5% gel applied twice daily) when compared with placebo (RR 8·11, 95% CI 1·09-60·09; low QoE). We found no instances of bradycardia or hypotension for this comparison.

CONCLUSIONS

Our key results indicate that oral propranolol and topical timolol maleate are more beneficial than placebo in terms of clearance or other measures of resolution, or both, without an increase in harm.

Efficacy of Propranolol Between 6 and 12 Months of Age in High-Risk Infantile Hemangioma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

There is no consensus on optimal treatment duration for propranolol in infantile hemangioma (IH). We evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral propranolol solution administered for a minimum of 6 months up to a maximum of 12 months of age in high-risk IH.

METHODS

This single-arm, open-label, phase 3 study was conducted in patients aged 35 to 150 days with high-risk IH in 10 hospitals between 2015 and 2017. The study comprised a 6-month initial treatment period (ITP) plus continuation up to 12 months of age if complete success was not achieved, a follow-up, and a retreatment period. Patients received oral propranolol twice daily (3 mg/kg per day). The primary end point was the success rate at the end of the ITP. Furthermore, the persistence of IH response and efficacy of retreatment was evaluated.

RESULTS

The success rate after 6 months of treatment was 47%, increasing to 76% at the end of the ITP. Of the patients who achieved success, 68% sustained success for 3 months without treatment, and 24% required retreatment. Of the 8 patients who were retreated, 7 achieved success. Adverse events, reported by 80% of patients, were mild, which were expected in this population or known propranolol side effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Oral propranolol administered beyond 6 months and up to 12 months of age meaningfully increases the success rate in high-risk IH. Success was sustained in most patients up to 3 months after stopping treatment. Retreatment was efficacious, and the safety profile satisfactory.

Interventions for infantile haemangiomas of the skin

BACKGROUND

Infantile haemangiomas (previously known as strawberry birthmarks) are soft, raised swellings of the skin that occur in 3% to 10% of infants. These benign vascular tumours are usually uncomplicated and tend to regress spontaneously. However, when haemangiomas occur in high-risk areas, such as near the eyes, throat, or nose, impairing their function, or when complications develop, intervention may be necessary. This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in 2011.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects of interventions for the management of infantile haemangiomas in children.

SEARCH METHODS

We updated our searches of the following databases to February 2017: the Cochrane Skin Group Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, AMED, LILACS, and CINAHL. We also searched five trials registries and checked the reference lists of included studies for further references to relevant trials.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of all types of interventions, versus placebo, active monitoring, or other interventions, in any child with single or multiple infantile haemangiomas (IHs) located on the skin.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

We used standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane. The primary outcome measures were clearance, a subjective measure of improvement, and adverse events. Secondary outcomes were other measures of resolution; proportion of parents or children who consider there is still a problem; aesthetic appearance; and requirement for surgical correction. We used GRADE to assess the quality of the evidence for each outcome; this is indicated in italics.

MAIN RESULTS

We included 28 RCTs, with a total of 1728 participants, assessing 12 different interventions, including lasers, beta blockers (e.g. propranolol, timolol maleate), radiation therapy, and steroids. Comparators included placebo, an active monitoring approach, sham radiation, and interventions given alone or in combination.Studies were conducted in a number of countries, including China, Egypt, France, and Australia. Participant age ranged from 12 weeks to 13.4 years. Most studies (23/28) included a majority of females and different types of IHs. Duration of follow-up ranged from 7 days to 72 months.We considered most of the trials as at low risk of random sequence generation, attrition bias, and selective reporting bias. Domains such as allocation concealment and blinding were not clearly reported in general. We downgraded evidence for issues related to risk of bias and imprecision.We report results for the three most important comparisons, which we chose on the basis of current use. Outcome measurement of these comparisons was at 24 weeks' follow-up.Oral propranolol versus placeboCompared with placebo, oral propranolol 3 mg/kg/day probably improves clinician-assessed clearance (risk ratio (RR) 16.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.22 to 65.34; 1 study; 156 children; moderate-quality evidence) and probably leads to a clinician-assessed reduction in mean haemangioma volume of 45.9% (95% CI 11.60 to 80.20; 1 study; 40 children; moderate-quality evidence). We found no evidence of a difference in terms of short- or long-term serious adverse events (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.33 to 3.39; 3 studies; 509 children; low-quality evidence), nor in terms of bronchospasm, hypoglycaemia, or serious cardiovascular adverse events. The results relating to clearance and resolution for this comparison were based on one industry-sponsored study.Topical timolol maleate versus placeboThe chance of reduction of redness, as a measure of clinician-assessed resolution, may be improved with topical timolol maleate 0.5% gel applied twice daily when compared with placebo (RR 8.11, 95% CI 1.09 to 60.09; 1 study; 41 children;low-quality evidence). Regarding short- or long-term serious cardiovascular events, we found no instances of bradycardia (slower than normal heart rate) or hypotension in either group (1 study; 41 children; low-quality evidence). No other safety data were assessed, and clearance was not measured.Oral propranolol versus topical timolol maleateWhen topical timolol maleate (0.5% eye drops applied twice daily) was compared with oral propranolol (via a tablet taken once per day, at a 1.0 mg/kg dose), there was no evidence of a difference in haemangioma size (as a measure of resolution) when measured by the proportion of patients with a clinician-assessed reduction of 50% or greater (RR 1.13, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.97; 1 study; 26 participants; low-quality evidence). Although there were more short- or long-term general adverse effects (such as severe diarrhoea, lethargy, and loss of appetite) in the oral propranolol group, there was no evidence of a difference between groups (RR 7.00, 95% CI 0.40 to 123.35; 1 study; 26 participants; very low-quality evidence). This comparison did not measure clearance.None of our key comparisons evaluated, at any follow-up, a subjective measure of improvement assessed by the parent or child; proportion of parents or children who consider there is still a problem; or physician-, child-, or parent-assessed aesthetic appearance.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found there to be a limited evidence base for the treatment of infantile haemangiomas: a large number of interventions and outcomes have not been assessed in RCTs.Our key results indicate that in the management of IH in children, oral propranolol and topical timolol maleate are more beneficial than placebo in terms of clearance or other measures of resolution, or both, without an increase in harms. We found no evidence of a difference between oral propranolol and topical timolol maleate with regard to reducing haemangioma size, but we are uncertain if there is a difference in safety. Oral propranolol is currently the standard treatment for this condition, and our review has not found evidence to challenge this. However, these results are based on moderate- to very low-quality evidence.The included studies were limited by small sample sizes and risk of bias in some domains. Future trials should blind personnel and participants; describe trials thoroughly in publications; and recruit a sufficient number of children to deduce meaningful results. Future trials should assess patient-reported outcomes, as well as objective outcomes of benefit, and should report adverse events comprehensively. Propranolol and timolol maleate require further assessment in RCTs of all types of IH, including those considered problematic, as do other lesser-used interventions and new interventions. All treatments should be compared against propranolol and timolol maleate, as beta blockers are approved as standard care.

Study protocol: safety and efficacy of propranolol 0.2% eye drops in newborns with a precocious stage of retinopathy of prematurity (DROP-ROP-0.2%): a multicenter, open-label, single arm, phase II trial

BACKGROUND

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) still represents one of the leading causes of visual impairment in childhood. Systemic propranolol has proven to be effective in reducing ROP progression in preterm newborns, although safety was not sufficiently guaranteed. On the contrary, topical treatment with propranolol eye micro-drops at a concentration of 0.1% had an optimal safety profile in preterm newborns with ROP, but was not sufficiently effective in reducing the disease progression if administered at an advanced stage (during stage 2). The aim of the present protocol is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of propranolol 0.2% eye micro-drops in preterm newborns at a more precocious stage of ROP (stage 1).

METHODS

A multicenter, open-label, phase II, clinical trial, planned according to the Simon optimal two-stage design, will be performed to analyze the safety and efficacy of propranolol 0.2% eye micro-drops in preterm newborns with stage 1 ROP. Preterm newborns with a gestational age of 23-32 weeks, with a stage 1 ROP will receive propranolol 0.2% eye micro-drops treatment until retinal vascularization has been completed, but for no longer than 90 days. Hemodynamic and respiratory parameters will be continuously monitored. Blood samplings checking metabolic, renal and liver functions, as well as electrocardiogram and echocardiogram, will be periodically performed to investigate treatment safety. Additionally, propranolol plasma levels will be measured at the steady state, on the 10th day of treatment. To assess the efficacy of topical treatment, the ROP progression from stage 1 ROP to stage 2 or 3 with plus will be evaluated by serial ophthalmologic examinations.

DISCUSSION

Propranolol eye micro-drops could represent an ideal strategy in counteracting ROP, because it is definitely safer than oral administration, inexpensive and an easily affordable treatment. Establishing the optimal dosage and treatment schedule is to date a crucial issue.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT02504944, registered on July 19, 2015, updated July 12, 2016. EudraCT Number 2014-005472-29.

Comparison of Efficacy and Safety Between Propranolol and Steroid for Infantile Hemangioma: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

There are limited data from randomized clinical trials comparing propranolol and steroid medication for treatment of infantile hemangioma (IH).

Objective

To determine the efficacy and safety of propranolol compared with steroid as a first-line treatment for IH.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This randomized clinical noninferiority trial tested the efficacy and safety of propranolol vs steroid treatment for IH at a single academic hospital. All participants were diagnosed with IH between June 2013 and October 2014, had normal heart function, and had not been previously treated for IH.

Interventions

The participants were randomly assigned to either the propranolol group or the steroid group. In the propranolol group, the patients were admitted, observed for adverse effects for 3 days after treatment initiation, and then released and treated as outpatients for 16 weeks (2 mg/kg/d). In the steroid group, the patients were seen as outpatients from the beginning and were also treated for 16 weeks (2 mg/kg/d).

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary efficacy variable was the response to treatment at 16 weeks, which was evaluated by the hemangioma volume using magnetic resonance imaging before and at 16 weeks after treatment initiation. While comparing the effect of medication between the groups, we monitored the adverse effects of both drugs.

Results

A total of 34 patients (15 boys, 19 girls; mean age, 3.3 months; range, 0.3-8.2 months) were randomized to receive either propranolol or steroid treatment (17 in each treatment group). Guardians for 2 patients in the steroid group withdrew their consent, and 1 patient in the propranolol group did not complete the efficacy test. The intention-to-treat analysis, applying multiple imputations, found the treatment response rate in the propranolol group to be 95.65%, and that of the steroid group was 91.94%. Because the difference in response rate between the groups was 3.71%, propranolol was considered noninferior. We found that there was no difference between the groups in safety outcomes.

Conclusions and Relevance

Our trial demonstrated that propranolol was not inferior to steroid with respect to therapeutic effects in IH.

Trial Registration

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01908972.

Sildenafil suppresses the proliferation and enhances the apoptosis of hemangioma endothelial cells

Treatment of infantile hemangiomas (IH) with propranolol was first reported in 2008. Regressions of lymphatic malformations combined with pulmonary hypertension was first reported in 2012 after three children received treatment with oral sildenafil, which serves as an antagonist of phosphodiesterase isoform-5 (PDE-5). A marked expression of endothelial cells in the cytoplasm of IH tissues was obtained in our previous study. Therefore, the present study hypothesized that the antagonist of PDE-5, sildenafil, may lead to the regression of hemangiomas. To assess this hypothesis, the proliferation and apoptosis of specimen-derived hemangioma endothelial cells (HemECs) was determined in vitro by an MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively, following treatment with sildenafil. The potential mechanisms underlying the mRNA and protein expression levels of inhibitor of differentiation 1 (Id-1) were determined by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. The results demonstrated that 5 µM sildenafil suppressed the proliferation of HemECs and significantly enhanced the rate of apoptosis after 24 h. Additionally, the mRNA and protein expression levels of Id-1 were downregulated following treatment with sildenafil. Therefore, the present study concluded that PDE-5 may be a potential therapeutic target for hemangiomas and Id-1 may serve a vital role in the associated signaling transduction pathways.

The use of propranolol in the treatment of subglottic hemangiomas: A literature review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

1) Describe the origins of the use of propranolol in the treatment of subglottic hemangiomas, 2) Perform meta-analysis of all case reports and series in which propranolol was used to treat subglottic hemangiomas.

STUDY DESIGN

Literature review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

A total of 61 cases were identified from 19 scholarly articles. Cases were assessed by parameters including age at diagnosis, presence of other hemangiomas, percent airway obstructed, dose of propranolol, treatment duration, age at therapy termination, use of steroids, and treatment failure. Treatment failure was defined as: 1) Need for surgery after initiation of propranolol, 2) Return of symptoms, or 3) Endoscopic worsening/recurrence of hemangioma. All data was subjected to comprehensive statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Though not statistically significant, a trend was noted towards a decreased treatment failure rate with increasing doses of propranolol (p = 0.0563). The use of concurrent steroids was associated with a higher failure rate (p = 0.0487). Notably, no associations were observed between the presence of additional hemangiomas, prior surgery, or increased initial percent airway obstruction with treatment failure.

CONCLUSION

Propranolol is rapidly becoming the standard of care in the treatment of subglottic hemangiomas. Despite widespread adoption, the rarity of this condition has limited previous studies to case reports and small series. No evidence-based guidelines exist for proper dosing of propranolol. The results of this meta-analysis suggest a benefit to higher doses of propranolol (3 mg/kg/day), though further investigation is needed.

Repurposing of approved cardiovascular drugs

Research and development of new drugs requires both long time and high costs, whereas safety and tolerability profiles make the success rate of approval very low. Drug repurposing, applying known drugs and compounds to new indications, has been noted recently as a cost-effective and time-unconsuming way in developing new drugs, because they have already been proven safe in humans. In this review, we discuss drug repurposing of approved cardiovascular drugs, such as aspirin, beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers, cardiac glycosides and statins. Regarding anti-tumor activities of these agents, a number of experimental studies have demonstrated promising pleiotropic properties, whereas all clinical trials have not shown expected results. In pathological conditions other than cancer, repurposing of cardiovascular drugs is also expanding. Numerous experimental studies have reported possibilities of drug repurposing in this field and some of them have been tried for new indications ('bench to bedside'), while unexpected results of clinical studies have given hints for drug repurposing and some unknown mechanisms of action have been demonstrated by experimental studies ('bedside to bench'). The future perspective of experimental and clinical studies using cardiovascular drugs are also discussed.

Infantile Periocular Haemangioma: Optimising the Therapeutic Response

Oral propranolol is now established as the first-line treatment for infantile haemangiomas, and used in up to 20 % of all cases. Propranolol use in infants is most commonly instigated in a controlled environment to monitor for potential serious adverse events such as hypoglycaemia and hypotension. Two test doses are recommended, the first one of 300 μg/kg followed by 2-hourly monitoring. On the subsequent day, a further dose of 650 μg/kg is administered with the same monitoring. A dose of 2 mg/kg divided into three is started from the next day. Parents/carers need to be warned of common adverse effects, of which disturbed sleep is the commonest. Treatment is recommended for up to a year to avoid rebound growth and the need to restart the treatment.

Pharmacologic Interventions for Infantile Hemangioma: A Meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) may be associated with significant functional impact.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to meta-analyze studies of pharmacologic interventions for children with IH.

DATA SOURCES

Data sources were Medline and other databases from 1982 to June 2015.

STUDY SELECTION

Two reviewers assessed studies using predetermined inclusion criteria.

DATA EXTRACTION

One reviewer extracted data with review by a second.

RESULTS

We included 18 studies in a network meta-analysis assessing relative expected rates of IH clearance associated with β-blockers and steroids. Oral propranolol had the largest mean estimate of expected clearance (95%; 95% Bayesian credible interval [BCI]: 88%-99%) relative to oral corticosteroids (43%, 95% BCI: 21%-66%) and control (6%, 95% BCI: 1%-11%). Strength of evidence (SOE) was high for propranolol's effects on reducing lesion size compared with observation/placebo. Corticosteroids demonstrated moderate effectiveness at reducing size/volume (moderate SOE for improvement in IH). SOE was low for effects of topical timolol versus placebo.

LIMITATIONS

Methodologic limitations of available evidence may compromise SOE. Validity of meta-analytic estimates relies on the assumption of exchangeability among studies, conditional on effects of the intervention. Results rely on assumed lack of reporting bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Propranolol is effective at reducing IH size compared with placebo, observation, and other treatments including steroids in most studies. Corticosteroids demonstrate moderate effectiveness at reducing IH size/volume. The meta-analysis estimates provide a relative ranking of anticipated rates of lesion clearance among treatments. Families and clinicians making treatment decisions should also factor in elements such as lesion size, location, number, and type, and patient and family preferences.

Cardiovascular drugs in the treatment of infantile hemangioma

Since the introduction of propranolol in the treatment of complicated infantile hemangiomas (IH) in 2008, other different beta-blockers, including timolol, acetabutolol, nadolol and atenolol, have been successfully used for the same purpose. Various hypotheses including vasoconstriction, inhibition of angiogenesis and the induction of apoptosis in proliferating endothelial cells have been advanced as the potential beta-blocker-induced effect on the accelerated IH involution, although the exact mechanism of action of beta-blockers remains unknown. This has generated an extraordinary interest in IH research and has led to the discovery of the role of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in the biology of IH, providing a plausible explanation for the beta-blocker induced effect on IH involution and the development of new potential indications for RAS drugs such as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers in the treatment of IH. This review is focused on the current use of cardiovascular drugs in the treatment of IH.

Commentary on Moodley S et al. "Shouldn't Propranolol be Used to Treat All Hemangiomas?"

I was asked to provide a commentary for "Shouldn't Propranolol be Used to Treat All Hemangiomas?" by Moodley et al. (Aesth Plast Surg, 2015. doi: 10.1007/s00266-015-0557-x ). I commend the authors for implicitly recognizing that it is no longer appropriate to take the laissez faire approach to hemangiomas of infancy. Whilst hemangiomas will eventually improve, they will not necessarily "disappear," as parents are often erroneously counseled. In fact, the larger a hemangioma becomes, the less likely one will be pleased with the ultimate result, whether treated medically or not. The natural process of proliferation followed by involution often produces saggy anetoderma, which, in certain anatomic locations is obvious and draws negative attention.

NO LEVEL ASSIGNED

This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each submission to which Evidence-Based Medicine rankings are applicable. This excludes Review Articles, Book Reviews, and manuscripts that concern Basic Science, Animal Studies, Cadaver Studies, and Experimental Studies. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors http://www.springer.com/00266.

Macrophages Contribute to the Progression of Infantile Hemangioma by Regulating the Proliferation and Differentiation of Hemangioma Stem Cells

Macrophage infiltration has been implicated in infantile hemangioma (IH), the most common tumor of infancy. However, the exact role of macrophages in IH remains unknown. This study aims to clarify the functional significance of macrophages in the progression of IH. The distribution of macrophages in human IH was analyzed, and our results revealed that polarized macrophages were more prevalent in proliferating IHs than in involuting IHs, which was consistent with the increased macrophage-related cytokines in proliferating IHs. In vitro results further demonstrated that polarized macrophages effectively promoted the proliferation of hemangioma stem cells (HemSCs) and suppressed their adipogenesis in an Akt- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (Erk1/2)-dependent manner. Moreover, M2- but not M1-polarized macrophages promoted the endothelial differentiation of HemSCs. Furthermore, mixing macrophages in a murine hemangioma model elevated microvessel density and postponed fat tissue formation, which was concomitant with the activation of Akt and Erk1/2 signals. Cluster analysis revealed a close correlation among the macrophage markers, Ki67, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), p-Akt, and p-Erk1/2 in human IH tissues. Collectively, our results suggest that macrophages in IH contribute to tumor progression by promoting the proliferation and endothelial differentiation while suppressing the adipogenesis of HemSCs. These findings indicate that targeting the infiltrating macrophages in IH is a promising therapeutic approach to accelerate IH regression.

Pediatric Vascular Tumors of the Head and Neck

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are often involved in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular neoplasms of the head and neck. An incorrect diagnosis may lead to improper or unnecessary treatment. This article reviews the diagnosis and management of vascular tumors.

A randomized, controlled trial of oral propranolol in infantile hemangioma

BACKGROUND

Oral propranolol has been used to treat complicated infantile hemangiomas, although data from randomized, controlled trials to inform its use are limited.

METHODS

We performed a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, adaptive, phase 2-3 trial assessing the efficacy and safety of a pediatric-specific oral propranolol solution in infants 1 to 5 months of age with proliferating infantile hemangioma requiring systemic therapy. Infants were randomly assigned to receive placebo or one of four propranolol regimens (1 or 3 mg of propranolol base per kilogram of body weight per day for 3 or 6 months). A preplanned interim analysis was conducted to identify the regimen to study for the final efficacy analysis. The primary end point was success (complete or nearly complete resolution of the target hemangioma) or failure of trial treatment at week 24, as assessed by independent, centralized, blinded evaluations of standardized photographs.

RESULTS

Of 460 infants who underwent randomization, 456 received treatment. On the basis of an interim analysis of the first 188 patients who completed 24 weeks of trial treatment, the regimen of 3 mg of propranolol per kilogram per day for 6 months was selected for the final efficacy analysis. The frequency of successful treatment was higher with this regimen than with placebo (60% vs. 4%, P<0.001). A total of 88% of patients who received the selected propranolol regimen showed improvement by week 5, versus 5% of patients who received placebo. A total of 10% of patients in whom treatment with propranolol was successful required systemic retreatment during follow-up. Known adverse events associated with propranolol (hypoglycemia, hypotension, bradycardia, and bronchospasm) occurred infrequently, with no significant difference in frequency between the placebo group and the groups receiving propranolol.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial showed that propranolol was effective at a dose of 3 mg per kilogram per day for 6 months in the treatment of infantile hemangioma. (Funded by Pierre Fabre Dermatologie; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01056341.).

Oral Propranolol: A New Treatment for Infants with Retinopathy of Prematurity?

INTRODUCTION

Oral propranolol has improved the treatment of infantile hemangiomas, and a pediatric oral solution of propranolol has recently been licensed in the USA and Europe. In very preterm infants, infantile hemangiomas are associated with the occurrence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and both diseases share a peculiar time course, featuring a lag phase after birth followed by rapid growth and then gradual regression.

OBJECTIVES

To identify clinical studies evaluating the use of oral propranolol in preterm infants with ROP.

RESULTS

Two small bicentric, pilot, randomized controlled trials found a nonsignificant reduction of ROP requiring intervention by laser treatment or bevacizumab injection of similar magnitude. Together, 6 of 35 (17%) infants who had been receiving oral propranolol underwent ROP intervention, as opposed to 14 of 36 (39%) controls (relative risk 0.42, 95% CI: 0.15-1.16). Randomized controlled trials are ongoing that investigate early preventive oral propranolol starting at 1 week of age and propranolol eye drops in preterm infants with stage 2 ROP.

CONCLUSION

Further, large interventional studies are required to determine the clinical benefit-risk ratio of oral propranolol to prevent vision-threatening ROP in very preterm infants.

Incidence and treatment of infantile haemangioma in preterm infants

Infantile haemangioma (IH) are vascular tumours with a unique growth dynamic, mostly absent at birth, growth in the first months followed by involution over several years, often resulting in residual skin changes. Immune-histologically, IH cells are exclusively glucose transporter protein-1 positive.The incidence of IH is increasing with decreasing gestational age, from 1-4% in term infants to 23% in those of <1000 g birth weight, with a female and Caucasian predominance. Discovery of systemic and topical beta blockers as an effective treatment option resulted in a rapid shift away from systemic steroids towards these drugs. For preterm infants, however, data on efficacy, pharmacokinetics and long-term safety are sparse or absent. Topical treatment without systemic side effects like cryotherapy may thus be an attractive alternative at an early growth stage (<10 mm). Indications for treatment with beta blockers, mostly propranolol systemically and timolol maleat 0.5% topically, are currently extrapolated from studies in older infants. Both seem effective, but adverse effects on sleep, circulation and metabolism are well described for propranolol. Long-term outcome data for either drug are missing. In conclusion, evidence on optimal IH treatment in preterms is lacking despite their high incidence; pharmacokinetic and clinical studies are warranted.

Parathyroid hormone 1-84 targets bone vascular structure and perfusion in mice: impacts of its administration regimen and of ovariectomy

Bone vessel functions during bone remodeling are poorly understood. They depend on both vessel network structure and vasomotor regulation. Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is a systemic vasodilator that may modulate microvascularization. Moreover, although intermittent PTH is anti-osteoporotic, continuous PTH administration can be catabolic for bone. Finally, ovariectomy (OVX) reduces bone perfusion and vessel density in mice. We reasoned that the effects of PTH on bone vascularization might depend on its administration regimen and be impacted by ovariectomy. A 100-µg/kg PTH 1-84 daily dose was administered for 15 days to 4-month-old female C57BL/6 mice, either as daily sc injection (iPTH) or continuously (cPTH; ALZET minipump). Blood pressure (BP) and tibia bone perfusion were measured in vivo with a laser Doppler device. Histomorphometry of bone and barium-contrasted vascular network were performed on the same tibia. Compared with untreated controls, both iPTH and cPTH increased bone formation but had opposite effects on resorption. Both iPTH and cPTH were slightly angiogenic. Intermittent PTH increased microvessel size (+48%, p < 0.001), whereas cPTH decreased it (-29%, p = 0.009). iPTH increased bone perfusion (27%, p < 0.001) with no change in BP, whereas cPTH did not. The vascular effects of a 15-day iPTH treatment were analyzed in OVX mice and compared with sham-operated and OVX untreated controls. Two other anti-osteoporotic drugs, zoledronate (one injection, 70 µg/kg) and propranolol, (5 mg/kg/d) were tested in OVX mice. Although no change in bone mass was observed, iPTH stimulated bone formation and prevented the OVX-induced reduction in bone perfusion and vessel density. Both zoledronate and propranolol strongly lowered bone turnover, but surprisingly, zoledronate prevented OVX-induced reduction in bone perfusion but propranolol did not. Our integrative approach thus demonstrates that the effects of PTH on bone vessel structure and function depend on its mode of administration as well as on the HPG-axis hormonal status, and that OVX-induced vascular changes are prevented by iPTH.