We read with interest the recent article by Akcay, et al.
on management of infantile hemangiomas [1]. In this study
out of 55 patients, 16 were started on steroid therapy out
of which 2 did not respond and 3 had steroid related side
effects. In another 34 patients who were followed up without
therapy, only 11 regressed.
Hemangiomas even when they are not life
threatening cause a lot of anguish to parents as they often
occur in visible areas of the head and neck region.
Intralesional steroid injections [2], interferon [3]
1. Akcay A, Karakas Z, Saribeyoglu ET,
Unuvar A, Baykal C, Garipardic M, et al. Infantile
hemangiomas: Complications and follow-up. Indian Pediatr.
2012;49:805-9.
2. Shorr N, Seiff SR. Central retinal
artery occlusion associated with perioccular corticosteroid
injection for juvenile hemangioma. Ophthal Surg.
1986;17:229-31.
3. Ezekowitz RAB, Mulliken JB.
Interferonalfa-2a therapy for life threatening hemangiomas
of infancy. N Engl J Med. 1992;326:1456-63.
4. Enjolras O, Breviere GM, Roger G, Tovi
M, Pellegrino B, Varotti E, et al. Vincristine
treatment for function and life-threatening infantile
hemangioma. Arch Pediatr 2004; 11:99-107
5. Leaute-Labreze C, Dumas de la Roque E, Hubiche T,
Boralevi F, Thambo JB, Taieb A. Propranolol for severe
hemangiomas of infancy. N Engl J Med. 2008;358: 2649-51.