SynthesisWorld journal of pediatrics : WJP2013
Beta-blockers versus corticosteroids in the treatment of infantile hemangioma: an evidence-based systematic review.
Synthesis in World journal of pediatrics : WJP, 2013. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 15 papers, 7 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
15 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- 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
- Japanese clinical practice guidelines for vascular tumors, vascular malformations, lymphatic malformations, and lymphangiomatosis 2022.Surgery today · 2026Guideline
- 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
- Spontaneous regression of multiple intracranial capillary hemangiomas in a newborn-long-term follow-up and literature review.Child's nervous system : ChNS : official journal of the International Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery · 2021Review
- Oral Beta-blocker in Problematic Infantile Hemangioma.Plastic and reconstructive surgery. Global open · 2021Article
- Beta Blockers in the Treatment of Periocular Infantile Hemangiomas: A Review.Internal medicine review (Washington, D.C. : Online) · 2016Article
- Educational paper: therapy of infantile haemangioma--history and current state (part II).European journal of pediatrics · 2015Review
- Airway management of a patient with extensive upper airway hemangioma for total thyroidectomy.Journal of anaesthesiology, clinical pharmacologyArticle
- Anesthesia management of a patient with multiple facial hemangiomas: Sometimes less is more!Journal of anaesthesiology, clinical pharmacologyArticle
- Anesthetic management of a patient with face hemangioma: case report.Brazilian journal of anesthesiology (Elsevier)Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe efficacy and safety of beta-blockers versus corticosteroids in the treatment of infantile hemangiomas (IHs) is controversial. This study aimed to summarize evidence described in the literature and to assess the quality of studies involving beta-blockers and corticosteroids for the treatment of cutaneous IHs.
methodsComparative studies were collected from 15 online electronic databases, including OVID Medline, PubMed, ISI Web of Science, CENTRAL, CNKI, ChiCTR, JPCTR, CTRIndia, IranCTR, SLCTR, ISRCTRN, NLCTR, GCTR, ANCTR, ClinicalTrial. gov, and associated references. Studies without a control group were excluded, and the remaining studies were assessed by two reviewers independently using the Downs & Black scale for reported quality. The main areas assessed in the included studies were volume changes, overall improvement in appearance, eye function, and adverse events.
resultsTen comparative studies were included with a total of 419 children. A meta-analysis was not performed due to the considerable heterogeneity across studies. Some evidence showed that beta-blockers are superior to steroids in reducing volume and improving the overall appearance of IHs, such as lightening of the color and flattening of the surface. Conclusions regarding improved eye function and adverse events were divided, and no consensus has been reached on the superiority of one treatment over another. No episodes of severe-onset asthma, hypotension, or bradycardia occurred in the beta-blocker treatment due to the rigorous exclusion of patients with contraindications.
conclusionsAvailable studies indicate that beta-blockers are an alternative option to corticosteroids for IH treatment with respect to volume shrinkage and improvement in appearance. No evidence has shown a significant difference in improved eye function and adverse events between beta-blockers and corticosteroids in the treatment of IH; indeed, there is a lack of well-designed, high-quality randomized control trials.
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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.