Primary Response to β-Blocker Therapy in Periocular Infantile Hemangioma - A Proposal for Ophthalmological Indicators.

Authors

Hannakaisa Eloranta, Eeva Castrén, Päivi Salminen, Kristiina Kyrklund, Anna Majander

Published in

Clinical ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.). Volume 20. Pages 628449. Epub Oct 06, 2026.

Abstract

To determine primary ocular response to β-blocker therapy in periocular infantile hemangioma (IH) and to apply defined ophthalmological indicators for the response assessment.
A retrospective study of 85 infants treated for periocular IH with β-blocker between June 2008 and December 2020. IH characteristics, associated ocular features, and implementation of β-blocker therapy were recorded. Ophthalmological treatment indications were reevaluated, and response to treatment was defined as the resolution of indications according to the following categories: 1) anisoastigmatism ≥ 1.0 diopter, 2) progressive eyelid closure, 3) exophthalmos, 4) other ocular defect, 5) prophylaxis, and 6) non-ocular indication.
β-blocker therapy was initiated at a median age of 3.0 months (IQR 2.0-5.0) and continued for a median of 9.0 months (IQR 7.0-16.5). Primary ocular response was achieved in 89% (95% CI: 79-95) of the patients. Seven patients were left with ≥ 1.0 diopter residual anisoastigmatism and mean cylinder power 1.50 D (range 1.25-3.00 D), one patient had partial eyelid closure, and three patients inadequate cosmesis despite complete ocular response. In isolated cases, astigmatism enhanced during β-blocker therapy. Repeated treatment periods were administered to 13 (15%) patients. No factors predictive of incomplete response or retreatment could be identified.
Ocular complications of periocular IH resolved in most patients during β-blocker therapy. The application of the defined ophthalmological response indicators allowed for simple and consistent outcome assessment. Careful monitoring is essential during and after therapy.

PMID:
42859798
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 11 Oct 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.