Beta-blocker therapy

Beta-blockers are drugs commonly used to lower blood pressure and heart rate, but they can also shrink certain types of vascular tumors, such as infantile hemangiomas. Beta-blocker therapy may be injected into a vein, taken by mouth, or placed on the skin (topical). How beta-blocker therapy is given depends on the type of vascular tumor being treated and where it first formed.

The beta-blocker propranolol is usually the first treatment for hemangiomas. Infants younger than 4 weeks, who have an underlying condition, or who are treated with IV propranolol may need to have their treatment started in a hospital. Infantile hemangioma may also be treated with propranolol and steroid therapy or propranolol and topical beta-blocker therapy. Propranolol is also used to treat benign vascular tumors of liver.

Other beta-blockers used to treat vascular tumors include atenolol, nadolol, and timolol.