In recent years, propranolol has emerged as the wonder drug for treating vascular birth marks(called Haemangioma’s) in infants. These can often grow to large sizes, distorting the facial features, and sometimes causing blindness, life-threatening bleeding and even death. However, a few years ago, Propranolol (a drug used normally to reduce blood pressure) was accidentally discovered to help virtually ‘cure’ these skin tumours. Data is now accumulating that the drug (and similar drugs in its class called Beta-blockers) can also be effective if used in a cream form.

The authors below report a pre-term infant who was treated with propranolol and developed episodes of apnoea (where the breathing stops) associated with absent heart beat. Luckily the infant was closely monitored and recovered well. The case underlines the need to be cautious with this powerful drug and always administer the drug under close cardiology supervision.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Dangers of propranolol in preterm infants

DOI: 10.1111/ajd.12079

© 2013 The Authors. Australasian Journal of Dermatology © 2013 The Australasian College of Dermatologists

Issue

Australasian Journal of Dermatology

Volume 54, Issue 3, pages 237–238, August 2013