A Retrospective Study of Infantile Hemangiomas: Demographic and Clinical Characteristics at Hera General Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to provide the clinical features of infantile hemangiomas and their associated risk factors. Method: The study included patients who have been diagnosed with infantile hemangiomas, who were identified from a logbook in the Dermatology Department of Hera General Hospital, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Demographic, prenatal, perinatal, and clinical data, along with complications and treatment modalities, were included on the data sheet. Result: The medical records of 61 patients were examined. Most of our patients were female (69.9%) and the maternal age of their mothers ranged from 22 to 43 years, with a mean maternal age of 28.8 years and a median age of 28 years. A positive family history of vascular anomalies in first-degree relatives was reported in 11.5% of patients. In 58 patients (95.1%), the age of onset for lesions was before two weeks (86.2%) and over two weeks (13.8%). Complications were noted in eight patients (13.3%). Most of our patients were treated by topical betablockers (39.7%), followed by pulsed-dye laser (10.3%) and systemic propranolol (10.3%). Observation of the hemangioma progression was seen in 57.6% of our patients. Conclusion: Hemangiomas more commonly occur in premature, female infants, who are more likely to be born as a product of single gestation. Further studies are needed to define other risk factors and to understand the relationship between potentially confounding factors.