Abrupt Discontinuation Versus Gradual Tapering of Propranolol in Infantile Hemangioma (PROIHSTOP)

This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, parallel-group, noninferiority trial designed to evaluate whether abrupt discontinuation of propranolol is noninferior to gradual tapering with respect to rebound growth in infantile hemangioma.

Eligible participants will be patients clinically diagnosed with infantile hemangioma who have received oral propranolol treatment for at least 6 months and meet predefined criteria for treatment discontinuation. The discontinuation criteria include complete or near-complete clinical regression of the lesion, no obvious blood flow on ultrasound, and maintenance of maximal regression for 3 months. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the abrupt discontinuation group or the gradual tapering group.

Participants in the abrupt discontinuation group will stop propranolol immediately after meeting the predefined discontinuation criteria. Participants in the gradual tapering group will receive half of the original total daily dose for the first 2 weeks, followed by one quarter of the original total daily dose for another 2 weeks, and propranolol will be discontinued in week 5.

All participants will be followed for at least 3 months after propranolol discontinuation. Demographic data, infantile hemangioma characteristics, treatment history, lesion size and color before and after treatment, rebound growth, major rebound growth, adverse events after discontinuation, age at rebound, interval from discontinuation to rebound, treatment after rebound, and parental satisfaction will be collected. Rebound growth will be assessed using standardized photographs and/or ultrasound by blinded outcome assessors.

The primary outcome is the proportion of participants with rebound growth after propranolol discontinuation. Rebound growth is defined as more than 20% regrowth in the external appearance of the infantile hemangioma, including changes in color and/or volume. Secondary outcomes include the proportion of participants with major rebound growth, age at rebound, time from discontinuation to rebound, treatment after rebound, adverse events after discontinuation, and parental satisfaction. Major rebound growth is defined as rebound growth requiring modification of oral propranolol treatment, including dose adjustment or restarting propranolol.

The planned sample size is 110 participants, with 55 participants in each group, allowing for an anticipated loss to follow-up rate.