OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical results of the treatment of severe 
infantile hemangioma with high-dose propranolol in Chinese.
METHODS: 56 cases with severe infantile hemangioma were treated with 
propranolol. Clinical evaluation, electrocardiography, and experimental 
examination of liver function and heart function were performed before 
treatment. The daily dose of propranolol was increased from 1 mg/kg at the first 
day to 1.5 mg/kg at the second day, and to 2 mg/kg at the third day. The 
propranolol was given twice a day. The treatment was lasted for six months. The 
patients were visited every month.
RESULTS: The lesion color was changed after 2-4 days of treatment in all the 
cases. All the lesions were dramatically improved after one month of treatment. 
The ulceration were healed, except one case. Until now, complete regression was 
achieved in 10 cases and marked improvement in 46 cases. Side effects were 
happened in 3 cases, including one case of abnormal liver function, one case of 
CK-MB increase and one case of continuous increase of CK-MB, LDH, ALT, GGT.
CONCLUSIONS: High-dose Propranolol is very effective in the treatment of 
infantile hemangioma with minor side effects and short disease period. It might 
he used as the first-line treatment for infantile hemangioma.