Topical Timolol: Evidence for Efficacy and Degree of Systemic Absorption

TY - JOUR

T1 - Topical Timolol: Evidence for Efficacy and Degree of Systemic Absorption

AU - Weibel, Lisa

AU - Barysch, Marjam J

AU - Scheer, Helene S

AU - Königs, Ingo

AU - Neuhaus, Kathrin

AU - Schiestl, Clemens

AU - Rentsch, Katharina

AU - Müller, Daniel M

AU - Theiler, Martin

N1 - © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

PY - 2016/3/1

Y1 - 2016/3/1

N2 - BACKGROUND: Topical use of timolol for infantile hemangiomas has recently emerged with promising results. It is unknown whether topical β-blockers act locally or if their effect is partly due to systemic absorption. This study investigates whether topically applied timolol is absorbed and reports on the efficacy of this treatment.METHODS: We treated 40 infants with small proliferating hemangiomas with topical timolol gel 0.5% twice daily and assessed urinary excretion and serum levels in a proportion of patients. Clinical response was evaluated on a visual analog scale of standardized photographs after 1, 2, 3, and 5 months.RESULTS: Forty infants with a median age of 18 weeks (range 2-35 wks) were included; 23 (58%) had superficial and 17 (42%) mixed-type hemangiomas. The median size was 3 cm(2) (range 0.1-15 cm(2) ) and nine hemangiomas were ulcerated. The hemangiomas improved significantly during treatment, with a median increase in visual analog scale of 7 points after 5 months (p < 0.001). Urinalysis for timolol was performed in 24 patients and was positive in 20 patients (83%). In three infants, serum levels of timolol were also measured and were all positive (median 0.16 ng/mL [range 0.1-0.18 ng/mL]). No significant side effects were recorded.CONCLUSION: Topical therapy with timolol is effective for infantile hemangiomas, but systemic absorption occurs. Serum levels in our patients were low, suggesting that using timolol for small hemangiomas is safe, but caution is advised when treating ulcerated or large hemangiomas, very young infants, or concomitantly using systemic propranolol.

AB - BACKGROUND: Topical use of timolol for infantile hemangiomas has recently emerged with promising results. It is unknown whether topical β-blockers act locally or if their effect is partly due to systemic absorption. This study investigates whether topically applied timolol is absorbed and reports on the efficacy of this treatment.METHODS: We treated 40 infants with small proliferating hemangiomas with topical timolol gel 0.5% twice daily and assessed urinary excretion and serum levels in a proportion of patients. Clinical response was evaluated on a visual analog scale of standardized photographs after 1, 2, 3, and 5 months.RESULTS: Forty infants with a median age of 18 weeks (range 2-35 wks) were included; 23 (58%) had superficial and 17 (42%) mixed-type hemangiomas. The median size was 3 cm(2) (range 0.1-15 cm(2) ) and nine hemangiomas were ulcerated. The hemangiomas improved significantly during treatment, with a median increase in visual analog scale of 7 points after 5 months (p < 0.001). Urinalysis for timolol was performed in 24 patients and was positive in 20 patients (83%). In three infants, serum levels of timolol were also measured and were all positive (median 0.16 ng/mL [range 0.1-0.18 ng/mL]). No significant side effects were recorded.CONCLUSION: Topical therapy with timolol is effective for infantile hemangiomas, but systemic absorption occurs. Serum levels in our patients were low, suggesting that using timolol for small hemangiomas is safe, but caution is advised when treating ulcerated or large hemangiomas, very young infants, or concomitantly using systemic propranolol.

U2 - 10.1111/pde.12767

DO - 10.1111/pde.12767

M3 - SCORING: Journal article

C2 - 26840644

VL - 33

SP - 184

EP - 190

JO - PEDIATR DERMATOL

JF - PEDIATR DERMATOL

SN - 0736-8046

IS - 2

ER -