Beta blocker treatment for infantile hemangiomas.

Infantile hemangiomas (IH) are common childhood vascular tumors.  Treatment of IH has undergone rapid change in recent years.  Since 2008, oral propranolol has been used to treat complicated IH and has proven superior to previously used therapies.  More recently, the efficacy of other systemic beta blockers, specifically atenolol and nadolol, has been reported.  In addition, topical timolol solution has been effective for treatment of smaller, more superficial IH.  The purpose of this article is to review the current literature of beta-blocker therapy for IH.