SynthesisActa otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale2012
Propranolol is an effective treatment for airway haemangiomas: a critical analysis and meta-analysis of published interventional studies.
Synthesis in Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Societa italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 18 papers, 8 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
18 citing papers in PubMed, 8 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.
- Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular tumors, vascular malformations, lymphatic malformations, and lymphangiomatosis 2022.Surgery today · 2026Guideline
- Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Tumors, Vascular Malformations, Lymphatic Malformations, and Lymphangiomatosis 2022.The Journal of dermatology · 2026Guideline
- Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular tumors, vascular malformations, lymphatic malformations, and lymphangiomatosis 2022.Japanese journal of radiology · 2026Guideline
- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety of Propranolol Versus Other Drugs in the Treatment of Infantile Hemangioma.Journal of cosmetic dermatology · 2026Pooled it
- Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Anomalies 2017.The Journal of dermatology · 2020Guideline
- Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular anomalies 2017.Japanese journal of radiology · 2020Guideline
- Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular anomalies 2017.Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric Society · 2020Guideline
- Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular tumors, vascular malformations, lymphatic malformations, and Lymphangiomatosis 2022.Pediatrics international : official journal of the Japan Pediatric SocietyGuideline
- Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Vascular Tumors, Vascular Malformations, Lymphatic Malformations, and Lymphangiomatosis 2022.Journal of plastic and reconstructive surgery · 2026Review
- Recent updates in laryngeal hemangioma management: a scoping review.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2024Article
- Expression of β1 adrenergic receptor in vascular anomalies in children.The Journal of international medical research · 2021Article
- Airways flat angioma misdiagnosed as difficult asthma in an adolescent.Respiratory medicine case reports · 2021Article
- Treatment failure with propranolol for subglottic haemangioma.BMJ case reports · 2019Article
- The changing face of complicated infantile hemangioma treatment.Pediatric radiology · 2016Review
- Analysis of the therapeutic evolution in the management of airway infantile hemangioma.World journal of clinical pediatrics · 2016Article
- Beta blockers: an innovation in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas.The Journal of clinical and aesthetic dermatology · 2014Review
- Propranolol in use for treatment of complex infant hemangiomas: literature review regarding current guidelines for preassessment and standards of care before initiation of therapy.TheScientificWorldJournal · 2013Review
- Comparing the Effectiveness of Propranolol versus Atenolol in Inducing Clinical Clearance in the Treatment of Infantile Haemangioma: A Randomised Controlled Trial.Indian journal of dermatologyArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
7 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Haemangiomas represent the most common benign tumours in infancy, affecting 1-2% of newborns. The present meta-analysis aimed to critically review the current evidence on the efficacy of propranolol in the management of airway haemangiomas, and explore potential adverse events and treatment failures. A literature review was performed in Medline and other available database sources, along with critical analysis of pooled data. Seventeen studies were included in the analysis. No study represented Level I evidence. The total number of treated patients was 61; 14 patients received propranolol as single-treatment. The comparative effectiveness of propranolol vs. systemic steroids was documented in 35 children, and showed superior outcome in the vast majority (94%, p < 0.001). The mean obstruction before propranolol administration was 72%, and after intervention was 20% (p < 0.001). The mean referral-age for children with airway haemangiomas was 2.4 months, the mean starting-age of propranolol treatment was 5.1 months and the mean follow-up period was 8.4 months. Four children failed to respond (6.5%), and in seven the haemangioma relapsed after discontinuation of treatment (11.5%). The results of the present study suggest that propranolol can be recommended for the treatment of airway haemangiomas, as it was found to be effective and outperformed the previously-considered gold standard treatment methods, with fewer side-effects. Immediate treatment with propranolol should be initiated once a diagnosis of symptomatic airway haemangioma is confirmed, and cardiovascular assessment has been performed. Children should remain on propranolol until the haemangioma enters the phase of involution. Active parental monitoring is essential to ensure treatment safety.
Indexed as
Identifiers
23093810PMC3468939W112641546What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.