Choroidal Hemangioma Treatment with Propranolol - A Case Study in Sturge-Weber Syndrome and Systematic Literature Review.

PURPOSE: To examine propranolol efficacy in treating diffuse (DCH) and circumscribed choroidal hemangiomas (CCH) and controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS).

METHODS

A SWS patient case treated with propranolol for DCH is presented. Following PRISMA guidelines, we also performed a systematic review using PubMed/Web of Science, analyzing 14 studies detailing propranolol treatment outcomes for DCH, CCH, and IOP control in SWS. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and outcome data were extracted and statistically analyzed. Fisher's exact test was used to compare findings such as retinal detachment rates.

RESULTS

We reviewed patients treated with propranolol, including 8 DCH, 18 CCH, and 16 SWS cases of IOP control. Retinal detachment rates were significantly higher in DCH compared to CCH cases. Post-propranolol, 73% of DCH and CCH cases showed subretinal fluid improvement, and in SWS patients, 94% had IOP reduction.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the potential utility of propranolol beyond its traditional use in cutaneous hemangioma for treatment of CCH/DCH and IOP control.