SynthesisDermatology (Basel, Switzerland)2021
The Efficacy and Safety of Topical β-Blockers in Treating Infantile Hemangiomas: A Meta-Analysis Including 11 Randomized Controlled Trials.
Synthesis in Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland), 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
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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.
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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.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Research progress on the use of beta-blockers in the progression prevention, and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2026Review
- Transdermal delivery of timolol maleate using hydrogel microneedles for the treatment of infantile haemangiomas.Materials today. Bio · 2025Article
- Interobserver and Intraobserver Agreement on the Treatment of Infantile Hemangiomas.JAMA dermatology · 2025Article
- Propranolol: a new pharmacologic approach to counter retinopathy of prematurity progression.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2024Review
- Good Clinical Responders to Topical Timolol in Patients with Infantile Hemangiomas: A 7-Year Retrospective Study of 328 Korean Patients.Annals of dermatology · 2022Article
- A case of bilateral plantar pseudo-Kaposi sarcoma successfully treated with propranolol.JAAD case reports · 2021Article
- IADVL SIG Pediatric Dermatology (Academy) Recommendations on Hemangioma of Infancy (HOI).Indian dermatology online journalReview
- Efficacy of 0.5% Timolol Maleate versus 0.05% Clobetasol Propionate in Treating Superficial Infantile Hemangioma: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric SurgeonsArticle
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundTo evaluate the efficacy and safety of topical β-blockers in the treatment of superficial infantile hemangiomas (SIH) and mixed infantile hemangiomas (MIH), respectively, and compare the efficacy and safety of topical β-blockers with other interventions.
methodsThe PRISMA guidelines were adhered to. We searched for randomized controlled trials in databases from 2010 to 2018 comparing topical β-blockers with other interventions for infantile hemangiomas. The outcomes evaluated were efficacy and adverse effects. Data analyses were performed using RevMan 5.3. Publication bias was assessed to account for bias in patient selection.
resultsEleven studies, involving 1,235 patients, were subjected to this meta-analysis. Six studies compared topical β-blockers with other interventions (propranolol, placebo, corticosteroids or pulsed dye laser) in treating SIH, and 5 studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of a topical β-blocker when it was combined with another intervention in treating MIH. A topical β-blocker was discovered to be as effective as oral propranolol in treating SIH (risk ratio, RR, 0.96, 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.91-1.02, p = 0.20, I2 = 0%), and topical β-blockers were more beneficial than placebo, corticosteroids or pulsed dye laser in treating SIH (RR 2.25, 95% CI 1.66-3.05, p < 0.00001, I2 = 0%). Topical β-blockers combined with another intervention gave rise to a better clinical response in the treatment of MIH than intervention alone (RR 1.99, 95% CI 1.10-3.60, p = 0.02, I2 = 55%) (standard mean difference 0.80, 95% CI 0.28-1.31, p = 0.002, I2 = 0%). Compared with oral propranolol, topical β-blockers were associated with fewer incidences of adverse effects (RR 0.05, 95% CI 0.01-0.39, p = 0.004, I2 = 0%). No significant difference in adverse effects was found when a topical β-blocker was combined with another intervention in treating MIH (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.58-1.74, p = 0.98, I2 = 0%).
conclusionsThis meta-analysis provided evidence that topical β-blockers may replace oral propranolol as first-line therapy for SIH and that they are of additive value in treating MIH.
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