Because all of the currently used medications have side effects, some serious, Gehris said the idea that propranolol could be used is an "enticing, interesting idea, because we're always looking for safer and more effective treatments."
But, she added, this study was done on a very small number of children, and it wasn't placebo-controlled. Additionally, in at least some of the cases, infants had already been given steroids, so, Gehris said, it's possible the reaction attributed to propranolol might have been a delayed reaction to the steroids.
Leaute-Labreze said that the researchers plan on conducting further research to further assess propranolol's effect on hemangiomas, and the authors of the study have applied for a patent on the use of beta blockers for the treatment of infant hemangioma.
"Propranolol may constitute a reasonable, safe alternative to systemic corticosteroids, and even to interferon or vincristine in severe infant hemangioma. However, the risk/benefit ratio of this treatment should be evaluated in non-alarming, cosmetically impairing infant hemangiomas," Leaute-Labreze said.
More information
To learn more about hemangiomas, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
