Management of oncology patients admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit of a general children's hospital - a single center analysis

BACKGROUND

The improving prognosis of children with cancer has partially been attributed to the increasing importance of pediatric intensive care units (PICU). We analyze whether outcome of these patients on a PICU improved during the last decade and which factors may influence the outcome in our hospital.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The charts of all oncology patients admitted to the PICU between 1998 and 2009 have been reviewed retrospectively. The survival of patients admitted for life threatening complications has been correlated with basic data, organ failure and the PRISM score. The results of 2 consecutive treatment periods (1998-2003 and 2004-2009) were compared.

RESULTS

644 admissions of 226 patients were recorded. 79 admissions were performed because of potentially life threatening complications (Group A), 236 for monitoring (B) and 329 admissions for interventions (C). 62% of Group A patients and all Group B and C patients were discharged alive. Poor outcome was associated with admission >28 days after initial diagnosis, PRISM >10, organ failure >2 organs, sepsis, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, need for mechanical ventilation or for catecholamines. The PICU survival rate of Group A patients admitted between 2004 and 2009 (78%) was higher than in the period between 1998 and 2003 (48%).

CONCLUSIONS

PICU provides essential services to support the pediatric oncology ward. Although children with cancer may have had benefit from advances in pediatric intensive care over the past decade, specific scoring systems for early identification of children with cancer needing PICU treatment are required. These systems might further improve PICU outcome in critical ill pediatric cancer patients.

Precursor Delivery for the Deposition of Superconducting Oxides: a Comparison Between Solid Sources and Aerosol

Epitaxial thin layers of YBa 2Cu 3O7−x (Tc=90 K, Jc (OT, 77 K) = 2 106 A cm-2) were synthesised by thermal decomposition (750 − 830 °C) of tetramethylheptanedionates of yttrium, barium and copper in the presence of oxygen. Three different precursor delivery systems have been used: In the first, the precursor's surface is flushed with the carrier gas (Ar), in the second, argon is directly injected through the powder leading to a much higher transport rate, and in the third, a liquid (diketonates in a solvent) is nebulized via a piezoelectric transducer. The transport and deposition rates obtained in these three different reactors will be compared.

Manual accuracy in comparison with a miniature master slave device--preclinical evaluation for ear surgery

Manual accuracy in microsurgery is reduced by tremor and limited access. A surgical approach through the middle ear also puts delicate structures at risk, while the surgeon is often working at an unergonomic position. At this point a micromanipulator could have a positive influence. A system was developed to measure "working accuracy", time and precision during manipulation in the middle ear. 10 ENT-surgeons simulated a perforation of the stapedial footplate on a modified 3D print of a human skull in a mock OR. Each trial was repeated more than 200 times aiming manually and using a micro-manipulator. Data of over 4000 measurements was tested and graphically processed. Work strain was evaluated with a questionnaire. Accuracy for manual and micromanipulator perforation revealed a small difference. Learning curves showed a stronger decrease both in deviation and time when the micromanipulator was used. Also a lower work strain was apparent. The micromanipulator has the potential as an aiding device in ear surgery.

Two or four hour [¹⁸F]FMISO-PET in HNSCC. When is the contrast best?

[¹⁸F]Fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography (FMISO-PET) is a non invasive imaging technique that can assist detecting intra tumour regions of hypoxia. FMISO-PET evinces comparatively low signal-to-noise-ratio (SNR) and may be acquired dynamically or after different uptake times post injection (p.i.). The aim of this study was to identify, if static images acquired two hours (MISO2) or four hours (MISO4) p.i. reveal higher contrast.

PATIENTS, METHODS

As part of a prospective trial, 23 patients with cancers of the head and neck underwent [¹⁸F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET before and during curative radiochemotherapy. Additionally, FMISO-PET studies 2 h and 4 h p.i. were done before treatment and after a mean dose of 11Gy, 23 Gy and 57 Gy during RCT. After coregistration, a dedicated software was used to define the gross tumour volume (GTV) by FDG PET for the primary tumour. This volume was overlaid to the FMISO images and hypoxia within the GTV was determined. The contrast between hypoxia determined by MISO2 and by MISO4 was investigated and analysed with the Wilcoxon-matched-pairs test.

RESULTS

Mean SUVmax in tumours of all examinations was 2.2 (stdev: 0.4, min: 1.3, max: 3.4) after 2 h and 2.4 (stdev: 0.7, min: 1.1, max: 4.4) after 4 h. In the neck musculature the mean SUVmax was 1.5 at both time points and the mean SUVmean decreased from 1.2 after 2 h to 1.1 after 4 h, respectively. These effects resulted in significantly rising contrast ratios from MISO2 to MISO4. The differently defined contrasts revealed significantly higher values for examinations 4 h p.i. (p < 0.002).

CONCLUSION

Data acquisition of [¹⁸F]FMISO should be done 4 h p.i. to gather the optimal contrast, preferably allowing further analysis, e. g. hypoxic sub volume definition for therapy planning.

[Immune tolerance induction with high-dose FVIII and pulsed intravenous immunoglobulin]

The development of neutralizing allo-antibodies against factor VIII (FVIII) or FVIII inhibitors is a severe complication in the treatment of haemophilia A. About 25% of the children with severe haemophilia A develop FVIII inhibitors. Here we report on a boy with severe haemophilia A and intron 22 inversion of the FVIII gene who was diagnosed at ten months of age. After 16 exposure days to FVIII (81 days after initial exposure) he developed a FVIII inhibitor (maximum: 9.76 BU/ml).

THERAPY

We started immune tolerance induction (ITI) according to the Bonn protocol with high dose plasma derived FVIII concentrate (100 IU per kg body weight) twice daily. For additional inhibitor elimination treatment the patient received intravenous immunoglobulin (ivIg) at a dose of 1-2 g/kg body weight every 4 to 6 weeks. After start of treatment a rapid decline of the inhibitor level was observed, nevertheless low FVIII inhibitor levels persisted (<5 BU/ml). Furthermore, the FVIII half-life was still accelerated. However, after every course of ivIg the inhibitor level declined and FVIII half-life was prolonged. Currently, the FVIII half-life is approaching normal values after more than seven months of ITI duration.

CONCLUSION

Additional application of immunoglobulin is beneficial for immune tolerance induction.

Leukapheresis and exchange transfusion in children with acute leukemia and hyperleukocytosis. A single center experience

BACKGROUND

The risk of severe complications or death during the initial period of acute leukemia was markedly decreased due to the progress in pediatric oncology and use of simple measures like hyperhydration, forced diuresis, treatment of hyperuricemia, correction of electrolyte and coagulation disturbances and the careful use of antileukemic drugs. The incidence of leukostasis and tumor lysis syndrome depends on absolute initial white blood cell counts and the underlying type of leukemia. Leukapheresis or exchange transfusion may improve the prognosis of high risk patients.

METHODS

Records of all pediatric patients who were newly diagnosed with acute leukemia between 1 / 1998 und 12 / 2008 were retrospectively reviewed for presence of hyperleukocytosis(white blood cell count > 100 GPT / l) at diagnosis and subsequent leukapheresis or exchange transfusion in regards to the clinical outcome.

RESULTS

At diagnosis 11 (14 % ) of 77 children with acute leukemia (7 acute lymphoblastic leukemia / ALL; 4 acute myeloblastic leukemia /AML) had hyperleukocytosis. 4 patients (2 ALL, 2 AML) received exchange transfusion and 2 others (1 ALL, 1 AML) underwent leukapheresis. Marked cytoreduction was achieved in all patients within 24 h after therapy initiation. There were no procedure-related adverse events. Symptoms due to hyperleukocytosis markedly improved after cytoreduction.

CONCLUSION

Leukapheresis or exchange transfusion together with conservative management and specific oncological therapy may contribute to rapid leukocyte reduction with acceptable risk. The exact impact of leukapheresis or exchange transfusion on short and long term outcome in pediatric patients with acute leukemia and initial hyperleukocytosis has to be evaluated in future multicentre studies or by the formation of clinical registries.

[Gentamicin intoxication in a preterm infant]

Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside that is widely used in neonatology in spite of its known nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity. Because there are only few cases reported in the literature experience with gentamicin overdosage is limited. We report the case of a preterm (gestational age 32+2 weeks) infant with an accidental administration of a ten-fold dose of gentamicin. The baby was treated with a slight increase of fluid intake and monitoring of renal function and gentamicin levels, respectively. A rapid decrease of the gentamicin level (peak level 44.5 mg/L, extrapolated peak level 65 mg/L) was observed. Nephrotoxicity or ototoxicity did not occur. Because of the small number of described cases, a general recommendation for the management of gentamicin intoxication is not possible. The intensity of treatment depends on renal function and gentamicin level. Only isolated patients will need dialysis or exchange transfusion. The case also demonstrates the need for the continuous discussion about hospital-associated damage and error management systems.

Total body MRI-governed involved compartment irradiation combined with high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell rescue improves long-term survival in Ewing tumor patients with multiple primary bone metastases

We examined the role of total body magnetic resonance imaging (TB-MRI)-governed involved compartment irradiation (ICI) and high-dose chemotherapy (HDC), followed by stem cell rescue (SCR) in patients with high-risk Ewing tumors (ETs) with multiple primary bone metastases (high-risk ET-MBM). Eleven patients with high-risk ET-MBM receiving initial assessment of involved bones by TB-MRI were registered from 1995 to 2000 (group A). In all, 6 patients out of 11 had additional lung disease at initial diagnosis; all had multifocal bone disease with more than three bones involved. After systemic induction with etoposide, vincristine, adriamycin (doxorubicin), ifosfamide, and actinomycin D (EVAIA) or VAIA chemotherapy, ICI of all sites positive by TB-MRI was administered, followed by HDC and SCR. A second group matched for observation period and consisting of 26 patients with more than three involved bones at diagnosis was treated with the European Intergroup Cooperative Ewing Sarcoma Study-92 (EICESS-92) protocol (group B). These patients did not receive TB-MRI and consequently did not receive TB-MRI-governed ICI, or HDC and SCR. Survival in group A vs group B was 45 vs 8% at 5 years and 27 vs 8% at 10 years after diagnosis (log rank and Breslow: P<0.005). We conclude that TB-MRI-governed ICI followed by HDC and SCR in ET-MBM is feasible and warrants further evaluation in prospective studies.

[Removal of a broken silastic catheter with a "snare"-catheter in a neonate]

Silastic central catheters inserted peripherally are used in neonatology since more than 20 years. Typical complications include catheter associated infection, thrombosis and malposition. Pericardial effusion, fracture and embolisation are rare. We report the case of a female newborn with congenital diaphragmatic hernia. A silastic catheter was inserted in the left cubital vein. The catheter ruptured when the obviously occluded lumen was flushed with saline. A 15 cm long catheter fragment located in the right ventricle and pulmonary artery was removed after cardiac catheterization with a "Snare"-catheter.

Pasteurella multocida als seltener Erreger der neonatalen Meningitis

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida), a Gram-negative bacillus is a typical commensal in the oropharynx of animals such as dogs and cats. Human diseases caused by P. multocida are rare and include respiratory infections, sepsis and meningitis. P. multocida infections are described predominantly in patients with underlying chronic disorders, in elderly patients or in infants < or = 1 year. We describe the case of a 3-week-old boy with meningitis due to Pasteurella multocida. P. multocida was also identified in oral swab and stool cultures of the pet cat. A direct contact between baby and cat was negated by the parents. The patient recovered without any neurological sequelae.

[Epidural haematoma in a newborn]

Birth injuries occur occasionally but, in contrast, perinatally acquired epidural and intracerebral hematomas as well as neonatal skull fractures are extremely rare. The appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic modalities depend on the size and site of the injury as well as any accompanying diseases. We report the case of a neonatal epidural and intracerebral haematoma with skull fracture following secondary caesarean section. There was no evidence for trauma during pregnancy, birth injury or other possible causes of bleeding. The haematoma was decompressed surgically. One year after surgery the boy suffers from moderate neurological compromise and focal seizures.

Arteria iliaca-Thrombose bei einem Frühgeborenen: Lysetherapie mit rt-PA

Thromboembolic events in neonates are very rare. They are often associated with severe disease affecting the newborn or are secondary to central venous lines or arterial catheters. Most of the described cases of thromboses of the iliac or femoral arteries are associated with cardiac catheterisation or femoral invasive blood pressure monitoring. The relationship between single umbilical arteries and an increased incidence of structural and chromosomal anomalies is well known, but a higher rate of thromboembolic disease in infants with single umbilical arteries has not been described. Rt-PA (recombinant tissue plasminogen activator) has been successfully used in small studies and numerous case reports. To date controlled clinical trials giving guidelines for antithrombotic therapy using rt-PA are still lacking. We report the clinical course of a 700 g premature male, who was born by Caesarean section at 29 + 6 gestational weeks. On the fifth day the baby suffered from arterial thrombosis of the right pelvis axis. Antenatally a single umbilical artery was identified. Iliac arteries on the involved site appeared hypoplastic. Additionally, the prothrombin G20210A mutation was found. The patient was treated successfully using recombinant tissue plasminogen activator. In the case of a high risk of limb or organ loss due to arterial thrombosis, thrombolysis using rt-PA is justified. Appropriate rt-PA treatment has been studied for the adult but not the paediatric population. Hence, well-designed clinical trials are necessary to determine the pharmacokinetics and dynamics of thrombolytic agents in children.

High-dose therapy for patients with primary multifocal and early relapsed Ewing's tumors: results of two consecutive regimens assessing the role of total-body irradiation

PURPOSE

Risk stratification of metastatic and relapsed Ewing's tumors (ETs) has been a matter of debate during the last decade. Patients with bone or bone marrow metastases or early or multiple relapses constitute the worst risk group in ET and have a poorer prognosis than patients with primary lung metastases or late relapses. In this article, the results of the present Meta European Intergroup Cooperative Ewing Sarcoma Study (MetaEICESS) (tandem melphalan/etoposide [TandemME]) were compared with the result of the previous study (hyper melphalan/etoposide [HyperME]), both at 5 years, in a patient population within the same high-risk stratum to determine toxicity.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Among 54 eligible patients, 26 were treated according to the HyperME protocol, and 28 were treated according to TandemME protocol. Patients received six cycles of the Cooperative Ewing Sarcoma Study treatment in HyperME and six cycles of the EICESS treatment in TandemME as induction chemotherapy. Patients also received involved-compartment irradiation for local intensification and myeloablative systemic intensification consolidation with hyperfractionated total-body irradiation (TBI) combined with melphalan/etoposide in HyperME or two times the melphalan/etoposide in TandemME followed by autologous stem-cell transplantation.

RESULTS

The event-free survival (EFS) rate +/- SD in HyperME and TandemME was 22% +/- 8% and 29% +/- 9%, respectively. The dead of complication rate was 23% in HyperME and 4% in TandemME.

CONCLUSION

TandemME offers a decent, albeit still not satisfactory, rate of long-term remissions in most advanced ETs (AETs), with short-term treatment and acceptable toxicity. TBI was not required to maintain EFS level in this setting but was associated with a high rate of toxic death. Future prospective studies in unselected patients are warranted to evaluate high-dose therapy in an unselected group of patients with AET.

[Oncology patients in a pediatric intensive care unit--a 7-year experience]

BACKGROUND

As a result of improved therapeutic and diagnostic modalities the survival rate of children with neoplastic disease has increased dramatically. The consequences of these scientific advances have led to increased malignancy-related critical complications requiring the expertise of intensive care practitioners.

PATIENTS

From all children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of the Martin-Luther University Halle those with hematologic-oncologic condition were evaluated.

RESULTS

From 4068 PICU admissions 196 (4.8%) oncologic patients were identified. Most of them were admitted for postoperative care, monitoring or intervention. 24 patients were admitted because of severe disease or treatment related complications. 14 out of 24 (58%) patients died on PICU. Mortality was significant higher in a subgroup requiring mechanical ventilation or suffering from sepsis. All patients but two with multi-organ system failure (> or = 2 organs) died.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with neoplastic disease can benefit from pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) support. Successful treatment of life-threatening complications requires a close cooperation of pediatric oncology and PICU. Further studies are necessary to improve therapeutic strategies in oncology patients requiring PICU admission.

[Guillain-Barré syndrome as a rare cause of acute respiratory insufficiency]

BACKGROUND

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an acute inflammatory demyelinating disease of peripheral nerves. Antibodies acting against antigens on the myelin or the axons seem to play a causative role. In up to 80 % the onset of GBS follows an antecedent respiratory or gastrointestinal infection.

CASE REPORT

An 20 month old boy was referred to our hospital because of meningism and aspiration pneumonia. 10 days earlier the patient had experienced a period of fever. Because of respiratory insufficiency the patient was intubated, sedated and received mechanical ventilation. That's why a major neurological examination was not possible. The patient demonstrated a flaccid tetraplegic paralysis and autonomic dysfunction with elevated blood pressure, tachycardia, elevated ADH level and hyperglycaemia. Decreased motor nerve conduction and an increased CSF protein with normal CSF cell count confirmed diagnosis of GBS. Active CMV infection was diagnosed by PCR as the possible trigger factor. Intravenous immunoglobulins were given and the patient reached a complete remission except a slight disturbance of peroneal nerve.

CONCLUSIONS

IVIG and PP therapy are equally effective in GBS. In contrast corticosteroids are not of benefit. Prognosis of childhood GBS is good. Only 4 % of affected children demonstrate persistent muscular weakness. The long interval between admission and diagnosis in the reported case emphasized the importance of neurological examination especially in sedated patients.

Treatment with cyclosporin A in a patient with Omenn's syndrome

Unless treated with haematopoetic stem cell transplantation, Omenn's syndrome, a rare variant of severe combined immunodeficiency, is associated with a fatal outcome. We describe a male infant showing all the typical features of Omenn's syndrome, who was successfully treated with cyclosporin A to improve clinical condition prior to haematopoetic stem cell transplantation.

Unusual presentation of central nervous system relapse with oculomotor nerve palsy in a case of CD56-positive acute myeloid leukemia following allogeneic stem cell transplantation

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) plays an important role in the treatment of infants and children with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). Leukemic relapse after allo-SCT is responsible for a high rate of treatment failure. Extra-medullary relapse (EMR), without involvement of bone marrow, is rare compared to medullary relapse. CD56, the neural cell adhesion molecule, may contribute to the higher frequency of CNS relapse in CD56-positive AML. We observed an isolated EMR on the oculomotor nerve of a 17-month-old girl 12 weeks after cord blood transplantation (CBT), who was transplanted because of CD56-positive AML. Diagnosis of relapse was suspected clinically and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) and chimerism analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Therapy consisted of intra-thecal chemotherapy, CNS irradiation, and systemic immunomodulation by cyclosporin A (CsA) and basiliximab withdrawal. Twenty-one months after relapse, the patient shows full remission of symptoms and previously described oculomotor nerve infiltration.

Arterial complications after liver transplantation

From September 1988 through April 1998, 1,000 liver transplantations were performed on 911 patients. During the postoperative control examinations of 837 patients, we found 23 (2.74 %) with hepatic artery thromboses, 27 stenoses of the hepatic artery (3.22 %), and 6 aneurysms of the graft artery. Seventeen patients underwent retransplantation because of arterial complications. Depending on the clinical symptoms, we treated both the local situation as well as the resulting complications of inadequate arterial graft flow. The aneurysms were primarily treated surgically. The first choice of treatment of stenoses was balloon angioplasty. Early postoperative artery thromboses were also treated surgically by thrombectomy in selected cases. For the resulting biliary and local septic complications we preferred endoscopic and drainage procedures. Our clinical experiences have led us to find pretransplantation angiography recommendable, especially in the case of splanchnic artery stenoses, for bypassing from the aorta for arterial perfusion of the graft.

Arterial complications after liver transplantation

From September 1988 through April 1998, 1,000 liver transplantations were performed on 911 patients. During the postoperative control examinations of 837 patients, we found 23 (2.74 %) with hepatic artery thromboses, 27 stenoses of the hepatic artery (3.22 %), and 6 aneurysms of the graft artery. Seventeen patients underwent retransplantation because of arterial complications. Depending on the clinical symptoms, we treated both the local situation as well as the resulting complications of inadequate arterial graft flow. The aneurysms were primarily treated surgically. The first choice of treatment of stenoses was balloon angioplasty. Early postoperative artery thromboses were also treated surgically by thrombectomy in selected cases. For the resulting biliary and local septic complications we preferred endoscopic and drainage procedures. Our clinical experiences have led us to find pretransplantation angiography recommendable, especially in the case of splanchnic artery stenoses, for bypassing from the aorta for arterial perfusion of the graft.

Allogeneic and autologous stem-cell transplantation in advanced Ewing tumors. An update after long-term follow-up from two centers of the European Intergroup study EICESS. Stem-Cell Transplant Programs at Düsseldorf University Medical Center, Germany and St. Anna Kinderspital, Vienna, Austria

BACKGROUND

An update of results from the High Risk Protocol of the Meta-EICESS Study, conducted at the Pediatric Stem-Cell Transplant Centers of Düsseldorf and Vienna. In order to evaluate a possible therapeutic benefit after allogeneic SCT in patients with advanced Ewing tumors (AET), we compared outcome after autologous and allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We analyzed 36 patients treated with the myeloablative Hyper-ME protocol (hyperfractionated total body irradiation, melphalan, etoposide +/- carboplatin) between November 1986 and December 1994. Minimal follow-up for all patients was five years. All patients underwent remission induction chemotherapy and local treatment before myeloablative therapy. Seventeen of thirty-six patients had multifocal primary Ewing's tumor, eighteen of thirty-six had early, multiple or multifocal relapse, one of thirty-six patients had unifocal late relapse. Twenty-six of thirty-six were treated with autologous and ten of thirty-six with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells. We analyzed the following risk factors, that could possibly influence the event-free survival (EFS): number of involved bones, degree of remission at time of SCT, type of graft, indication for SCT, bone marrow infiltration, bone with concomitant lung disease, age at time of diagnosis, pelvic involvement, involved compartment radiation, histopathological diagnosis.

RESULTS

EFS for the 36 patients was 0.24 (0.21) +/- 0.07. Eighteen of thirty-six patients suffered relapse or died of disease, nine of thirty-six died of treatment related toxicity (DOC). Nine of thirty-six patients are alive in CR. Age > or = 17 years at initial diagnosis (P < 0.005) significantly deteriorated outcome. According to the type of graft, EFS was 0.25 +/- 0.08 after autologous and 0.20 +/- 0.13 after allogeneic SCT. Incidence of DOC was more than twice as high after allogeneic (40%) compared to autologous (19%) SCT, even though the difference did not reach significance (P = 0.08, Fisher's exact test).

CONCLUSIONS

Because of the rather short observation period. secondary malignant neoplasms (SMN) may complicate the future clinical course of some of our patients who are currently viewed as event-free survivors. EFS in AET is not improved by allogeneic SCT due to a higher complication rate. The patient group was to small to analyze for a possible graft-versus-tumor effect.

Venous complications after orthotopic liver transplantation

Complications involving the portal vein or the vena cava, are rare after orthotopic liver transplantation. We report on the incidence and treatment of venous complications following 1000 orthotopic liver transplantations in 911 patients. Twenty-six of the adult patients (2.7%) suffered from portal complications after transplantation, whereas complications of the vena cava were observed in only 17 patients (1.8%). Technical problems or recurrence of the underlying disease (e.g. Budd-Chiari syndrome) accounted for the majority of complications of the vena cava, whereas alteration of the vessel wall or splenectomy during transplantation could be identified as important risk factors for portal vein complications. In patients undergoing modification of the standard end-to-end veno-venous anastomosis of the portal vein due to pathological changes of the vessel wall, complications occurred in 8.3%, whereas only 2.4% of patients who received a standard anastomosis of the portal vein experienced complications of the portal vein. Furthermore, splenectomy during transplantation was also associated with an increased incidence of portal vein complications (10.5 vs. 2.2% in patients without splenectomy). Treatment was dependent on the signs and symptoms of the patients, and varied considerably between patients with portal vein complications and patients suffering from complications of the vena cava. Complications of the vena cava led to retransplantation in about one-third of the patients, whereas in patients with occlusion of the portal vein, retransplantation was necessary in only 15%, and more than half of the patients suffering from portal vein complications did not require any treatment at all. Usually, treatment of patients with portal vein complications only became necessary when additional complications such as arterial occlusion or bile duct injuries occurred.

Increasing prevalence of overweight among Wisconsin adults, 1989-1998

OBJECTIVES

Overweight is an important condition that increases the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. We examined trends in overweight prevalence among Wisconsin adults from 1989 to 1998 and assessed progress in reaching the overweight 2000 goal for Wisconsin.

METHODS

We used data on the self-reported height, weight, and calculated body mass index from the Wisconsin Behavioral Risk Factor Survey to examine overweight prevalence trends among Wisconsin adults.

RESULTS

The prevalence of overweight has increased over 40% during the past decade from 23% of adults in 1989, to 34% of adults in 1998. The increase occurred in men and women, blacks and whites, and all age groups. In 1998, 330,000 more adults were overweight in Wisconsin, compared to 1989.

CONCLUSION

As rates of overweight continue to increase, the incidence and prevalence of many chronic diseases will also increase. Effective population-based efforts are required to reduce caloric intake and increase physical activity among Wisconsin adults.

Oral combination chemotherapy in the management of AIDS-related lymphoproliferative malignancies

An oral combination chemotherapy regimen initially developed for AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma includes lomustine (CCNU), etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and procarbazine. This regimen takes advantage of oral administration, the in vitro synergy of these drugs and their first-line efficacy in lymphoma, and the ability of lomustine and procarbazine to cross the blood-brain barrier. This regimen was used to treat 38 patients with AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The overall objective response rate was 66% (34% complete response rate) with a 5% CNS relapse rate, and a median survival duration of 7.0 months. One-third of the patients survived for 1 year, 11% for 2 years, and half of the patients survived free from progression of their lymphoma. On the basis of these results, this oral regimen was modified and administered to 5 patients with AIDS-related primary CNS lymphoma as part of a sequential combined-modality chemotherapy and radiation regimen. Rapid progression of CNS disease was observed in this group of patients, with a median survival duration of 1.0 month. The identical regimen was administered to 7 patients with AIDS-related Hodgkin's disease: we observed a 71% partial remission rate and a median survival duration of 7.0 months. Myelosuppression remains the most significant clinical toxicity. Our results with this oral regimen appear comparable to those of standard intravenous combination chemotherapy regimens in patients with AIDS-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Variations of surgical reconstruction in liver transplantation depending on vasculature

BACKGROUND

From September 1988 through April 1998, 1000 liver transplantations were performed on 911 patients. The standard technique for liver re-vascularization to guarantee an optimal blood inflow during transplantation was modified in 19% of the cases on the arterial side and in 5.6% of the cases on the portal side as a result of unusual anatomical features and pathological changes in the vasculature of the organ recipient. In 113 transplantations, successful reconstruction of accessory vessels of the graft (12 left and 101 right hepatic arteries) was performed without complications. It is our opinion that preoperative diagnosis of the vasculature (stenoses of the celiac trunk etc.) of the organ recipient by duplexsonography and angiography is necessary. Even with the help of these tests, it is extremely difficult to diagnose a "steal" syndrome in the splenic artery: for example, 31 of 40 patients with poor liver function received postoperative therapy for newly diagnosed "steals".

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

There is no increase in complications (stenosis and thrombosis) with modifications of arterial reconstruction (4.9 vs 6.3%); however, with modification of portal reconstruction the increase is from 2.4% to 8.3%.

Effect of small doses of iodine on thyroid function in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis residing in an area of mild iodine deficiency

OBJECTIVE

Several studies have suggested that iodine may influence thyroid hormone status, and perhaps antibody production, in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease. To date, studies have been carried out using large amounts of iodine. Therefore, we evaluated the effect of small doses of iodine on thyroid function and thyroid antibody levels in euthyroid patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis who were living in an area of mild dietary iodine deficiency.

METHODS

Forty patients who tested positive for anti-thyroid (TPO) antibodies or with a moderate to severe hypoechogenic pattern on ultrasound received 250 microg potassium iodide daily for 4 months (range 2-13 months). An additional 43 patients positive for TPO antibodies or with hypoechogenicity on ultrasound served as a control group. All patients were TBII negative.

RESULTS

Seven patients in the iodine-treated group developed subclinical hypothyroidism and one patient became hypothyroid. Three of the seven who were subclinically hypothyroid became euthyroid again when iodine treatment was stopped. One patient developed hyperthyroidism with a concomitant increase in TBII titre to 17 U/l, but after iodine withdrawal this patient became euthyroid again. Only one patient in the control group developed subclinical hypothyroidism during the same time period. All nine patients who developed thyroid dysfunction had reduced echogenicity on ultrasound. Four of the eight patients who developed subclinical hypothyroidism had TSH concentrations greater than 3 mU/l. In 32 patients in the iodine-treated group and 42 in the control group, no significant changes in thyroid function, antibody titres or thyroid volume were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Small amounts of supplementary iodine (250 microg) cause slight but significant changes in thyroid hormone function in predisposed individuals.