Propranolol Remains Reference Systemic Therapy for Infantile Hemangioma
This benchmark-anchored network meta-analysis confirms that no alternative systemic or topical intervention outperforms oral propranolol in efficacy, positioning atenolol as the leading option for propranolol-intolerant infants.
Oral propranolol stays first-line for infantile hemangioma.
Infantile hemangioma is a common vascular tumor in infants, and effective management is crucial for reducing complications. Oral propranolol remains the best treatment option for infantile hemangioma with no other interventions showing superior efficacy. Corticosteroids had higher adverse event rates, while atenolol had fewer. Oral propranolol should remain the first-line treatment, but atenolol can be considered for patients intolerant to propranolol. Oral propranolol continues as the reference treatment for infantile hemangioma; atenolol is an alternative for those intolerant to it.
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Citation:Li C, Yang L, Pan L Efficacy and safety of interventions for infantile hemangioma compared with oral propranolol: an updated systematic review and bayesian network meta-analysis. European journal of pediatrics. 2026;185(8). doi:10.1007/s00431-026-07257-y
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Executive Summary
Study Design
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