A prospective study of topical carteolol therapy in Chinese infants with superficial infantile hemangioma

Background/objective: To report our observations from a trial of the short-term effectiveness and safety of topical carteolol hydrochloride drops to treat infantile hemangiomas (IHs).

Methods: From October 2012 to September 2015, the study recruited 349 children with superficial IHs. Participants were randomized to two groups: treatment (n = 224 who received 2% carteolol hydrochloride drops administered to the lesion surface twice daily) and observation (n = 125 who did not receive treatment). Therapy duration was 6 months.

Results: The mean age at the beginning of treatment was 3.2 months. Treatment responses were categorized as class 1 (total regression), class 2 (partial regression or controlled growth), or class 3 (no response). Of infants receiving carteolol treatment, 10.7% (24 patients) were categorized as class 1, 72.3% (162 patients) as class 2, and 17.0% (38 patients) as class 3. Of infants in the observation group, 5.6% (7 patients) were categorized as class 1, 25.6% (32 patients) as class 2, and 68.8% (86 patients) as class 3. No adverse effects were noted during treatment.

Conclusion: Carteolol is an effective, safe topical treatment for superficial IHs. Carteolol may be used to treat proliferative superficial IHs, particularly in infants younger than 6 months.