Oral propranolol treatment in infants and children.

To determine the effectiveness of oral propranolol in children, we administered 0.5 to 4.0 mg/kg/day of the drug to 64 children (age one day to 20 years); 41 with cardiac dysrhythmias, six with isiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis, and 17 with paroxysmal hypoxemic spells associated with right ventricular infundibular obstruction. A new liquid form of propranolol (10 mg/ml) was administered to 37 of the younger patients, and tablets were given to the other 27. Propranolol improved the dysrhythmia in 31 of 41 patients, being notably effective in supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia associated with a prolonged QT interval. The drug also eliminated symptoms attributed to IHSS in six of six patients and abolished hypoxemic spells in 12 of 17. The liquid and tablets were equally effective; and the liquid had the advantage of allowing for accurate dose changes in younger children. We conclude that oral propranolol is an excellent drug for use in pediatric patients with certain types of cardiac disease.