Trends in Anemia, Iron, Therapy, and Transfusion in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate trends in diagnosis and management of iron deficiency anemia using a large national children's hospital database in pediatric patients admitted with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

STUDY DESIGN

In this retrospective multicenter cohort study, we used the Pediatric Health Information System de-identified administrative database. Patients age <21 years with ≥2 admissions with International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision codes for Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis from 2012 to 2018 were included. We extracted data regarding diagnoses of anemia and/or iron deficiency, and receipt of oral iron, intravenous (IV) iron, and/or blood transfusion. Data were analyzed descriptively.

RESULTS

We identified 8007 unique patients meeting study criteria for a total of 28 260 admissions. The median age at admission was 15.4 years. A diagnosis of anemia was documented in 29.8% of admissions and iron studies were performed in 12.6%. IV iron was given in 6.3% of admissions and blood transfusions in 7.4%. The prevalence of the diagnosis of anemia among IBD admissions increased from 24.6% in 2012 to 32.4% in 2018 (P < .0001). There was a steady increase in the proportion of IBD admissions that used IV iron, from 3.5% in 2012 to 10.4% in 2018 (P < .0001), and the proportion of admissions with red cell transfusions decreased over time from 9.4% to 4.4% (P < .0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Iron deficiency anemia is prevalent among pediatric patients with IBD admitted to US children's hospitals. From 2012 to 2018, there was an increase in the use of inpatient IV iron for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia and a decrease in transfusions.

Pineoblastoma in children less than six years of age: The Head Start I, II, and III experience

BACKGROUND

We report the outcomes of patients with pineoblastoma and trilateral retinoblastoma syndrome enrolled on the Head Start (HS) I-III trials.

METHODS

Twenty-three children were enrolled prospectively between 1991 and 2009. Treatment included maximal surgical resection followed by five cycles of intensive chemotherapy and consolidation with marrow-ablative chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell rescue (HDCx/AuHCR). Irradiation following consolidation was reserved for children over six years of age or those with residual tumor at the end of induction.

RESULTS

Median age was 3.12 years (range, 0.44-5.72). Three patients withdrew from the study treatment and two patients experienced chemotherapy-related death. Eight patients experienced progressive disease (PD) during induction chemotherapy and did not proceed to HDCx/AuHCR. Ten patients received HDCx/AuHCR; eight experienced PD post-consolidation. Seven patients received craniospinal irradiation (CSI) with a median dose of 20.7 Gy (range, 18-36 Gy) with boost(s) (median dose 27 Gy; range, 18-36 Gy); three received CSI as adjuvant therapy (two post-HDCx/AuHCR) and four upon progression/recurrence. The five-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 9.7% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 2.6%-36.0%) and 13% (95% CI: 4.5%-37.5%), respectively. Only three patients survived beyond five years. Favorable OS prognostic factors were CSI (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.30 [0.11-0.86], P = 0.025) and HDCx/AuHCR (HR = 0.40 [0.16-0.99], P = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONS

Within the HS I-III trials, CSI and HDCx/AuHCR were statistically associated with improved survival. The high PD rate during later induction cycles and following consolidation chemotherapy warrants consideration of fewer induction cycles prior to consolidation and the potential intensification of consolidation with multiple cycles of marrow-ablative chemotherapy and irradiation.

Allocation of Treatment Responsibility and Adherence to Hydroxyurea Among Adolescents With Sickle Cell Disease

OBJECTIVE

Adolescents with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at increased risk for complications. Hydroxyurea is a medication that can ameliorate risk but to benefit, adolescents must adhere to treatment. Study aims were to describe how adolescents and their caregivers decided who was responsible for treatment tasks, to describe adolescents' and caregivers' responsibility for these tasks, and to examine if hydroxyurea adherence was associated with younger adolescent age, less discrepancy between adolescents' and caregivers' reports of adolescent responsibility, and higher caregiver involvement.

METHODS

Twenty-nine dyads completed treatment responsibility measures. A combination of laboratory and electronic prescription data were used to determine hydroxyurea adherence and electronic medical records were used to determine appointment adherence.

RESULTS

Few dyads agreed or planned how to complete treatment tasks. Adolescents shared responsibility with caregivers for medication-taking tasks. Adolescents perceived caregivers and caregivers perceived adolescents were overall responsible for treatment, especially for appointment tasks. Half of adolescents were adherent to hydroxyurea and half were adherent to appointments but medication adherence was not associated with age, discrepancy between adolescents' and caregivers' responses, or caregiver involvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite frequent hydroxyurea and appointment nonadherence, few adolescents and caregivers plan how to manage adolescents' SCD treatment or perceive they are overall responsible. Future studies are needed to determine the factors that influence these perceptions and if increasing adolescent and caregiver treatment planning improves adherence and clinical outcomes.

Laboratory monitoring during pregnancy and post-partum hemorrhage in women with von Willebrand disease

BACKGROUND

Evidence-based guidelines recommend that von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels be obtained in the third trimester of pregnancy to facilitate peripartum planning for women with von Willebrand disease (VWD).

OBJECTIVES

To identify the frequency of third trimester monitoring in a nationally representative sample of pregnant women with VWD in the United States, as well as the frequency of reproductive bleeding after pregnancy.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Patient data were obtained from the Truven Health MarketScan Research Databases. International Classification of Diseases-9 codes were used to identify women with VWD and evidence of infant delivery. We defined third trimester monitoring as a laboratory claim for VWF levels during the 3 months before delivery. Clinical outcomes studied included postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) and heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).

RESULTS

We identified 2238 unique pregnant females with VWD. Of these, 32% (n = 714) underwent third-trimester testing of VWF levels. Diagnostic codes consistent with PPH were recorded for 6.5% of women in the 6 weeks after infant delivery. The frequency of PPH in women who underwent VWF monitoring (4.9%) was significantly lower than in those who did not undergo monitoring (7.3%), (risk difference -2.4%, 95% CI -4.4% to -0.3%, P = .023). Diagnostic codes consistent with HMB were recorded for 4.7% of women in the 3 months after infant delivery.

CONCLUSIONS

Third-trimester VWF monitoring was associated with a lower risk of PPH, but testing was performed in only one-third of insured pregnant women with VWD in the United States despite expert recommendations.

Pediatric Histoplasmosis in an Area of Endemicity: A Contemporary Analysis

BACKGROUND

Data on pediatric histoplasmosis have been limited to those from outbreak and case reports. We sought to evaluate the contemporary clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and outcomes in children with histoplasmosis living in an area of endemicity.

METHODS

This study was a single-center retrospective review of proven and probable cases of histoplasmosis in children aged 0 to 18 years between April 2008 and April 2014. Case ascertainment was ensured by us using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes cross-referenced with laboratory, microbiology, and histopathology tests that detected Histoplasma capsulatum. Demographics, diagnostics, clinical management, and outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seventy-three children with histoplasmosis (41 males; median age, 13 years [range, 3-18 years]) were diagnosed with proven (n = 17 [23%]) or probable (n = 56 [77%]) histoplasmosis, which manifested as pulmonary (n = 52 [71%]) or disseminated (n = 21 [29%]) disease. Symptoms at presentation were nonspecific; the examination of 21 (29%) patients revealed abnormal physical findings. Detection of H capsulatum by serologic methods occurred in 93% (63 of 68) of the patients tested. Histoplasma antigen in blood or urine was detected in 42% (20 of 48) and 28% (15 of 53) of the patients tested, respectively. The 16 (22%) patients who were immunocompromised had significantly higher rates of disseminated disease (56% vs 21%, respectively; P = .01), antigenuria (62% vs 18%, respectively; P = .004), and antigenemia (69% vs 31%, respectively; P = .02) and longer durations of antigenuria (403 vs 120 days, respectively; P = .003) and antigenemia (451 vs 149 days, respectively; P < .0001) than did the immunocompetent children.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric histoplasmosis manifests most frequently as pulmonary disease. The highest diagnostic yield was achieved when multiple diagnostic modalities were used. Presentation with disseminated disease and evidence of antigenemia, antigenuria, and delayed antigen clearance were more likely to be seen in immunocompromised children.

The Risk of Developing Secondary Central Nervous System Tumors After Diagnostic Irradiation From Computed Tomography in Pediatrics: A Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Advanced diagnostic imaging has provided tremendous benefits; however, increased use of ionizing radiation modalities such as cranial computed tomography (CT) may be associated with an increased risk of developing central nervous system tumors.

METHODS

A literature review identified studies published for more than the last 50 years from 1968 to 2018 that explored the association between head CT scans and developing central nervous system tumors in pediatrics. We reviewed seven studies that described and analyzed the risk of brain tumors.

RESULTS

A positive correlation between exposure to CT scans and developing central nervous system tumors was evident in all cohorts. The strength of the association varied across the studies. Exclusion of patients with predisposing factors to central nervous system tumors was examined in four studies with a decreased risk to develop central nervous system tumors noted in three studies. Two studies reported nonsignificant reduction in the excess relative risk per milliGray of brain dose after adjusting for predisposing factors, whereas the reduction was significant in one study. The frequency of CT exposure was proportional to the risk of developing tumors in two studies although not significantly maintained in two other studies. Gender had no significant effect on the central nervous system tumor risk. The calendar year at the time of imaging showed decreasing risk in those exposed to CT in more recent years compared with prior decades.

CONCLUSIONS

Prospective epidemiologic studies are needed to examine the precise carcinogenic effect of exposure to ionizing radiation and help tailor further preventive measures.

Screening urinalysis demonstrates that haematuria is a frequent finding in persons with haemophilia treated at a paediatric haemophilia treatment centre

INTRODUCTION

Haematuria is a recognized complication of haemophilia A and B (HA, HB). Adult persons with haemophilia (PWH) have a higher prevalence of renal disease than the general population. There is limited literature investigating the prevalence of haematuria in paediatric PWH.

AIM

Our paediatric haemophilia treatment centre (HTC) had previously used quality improvement methods to increase the frequency of screening urinalyses at annual comprehensive visits. We retrospectively reviewed the data collected to determine the prevalence of haematuria and explore for associations in those with haematuria.

METHODS

Retrospective chart review to identify the frequency of haematuria on screening urinalysis in all male PWH ≥2 years old. Haematuria was defined as ≥3 red blood cells (RBCs) per high power field. Univariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate for associations with haematuria.

RESULTS

A total of 93 patients met eligibility criteria. Sixty-seven with HA (11 mild, 17 moderate, 39 severe) and 26 with HB (three mild, 16 moderate, seven severe). Forty-two of ninety-three (45%) patients were identified as having haematuria (median RBCs 7, mean RBCs 332). Of those with haematuria, 76% were identified by screening UA, as opposed to clinical symptoms, and 52% had recurrent haematuria. Older age and HA were associated with an increased likelihood of haematuria.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that the prevalence of haematuria was high in PWH treated at our paediatric HTC. Future investigation is needed to determine the population-wide prevalence of haematuria in paediatric PWH and its impact on renal function.

Anti-Factor Xa-Based Monitoring of Unfractionated Heparin: Clinical Outcomes in a Pediatric Cohort

OBJECTIVES

To assess clinical outcomes in children treated with unfractionated heparin and monitored using an anti-factor Xa (Anti-FXa)-based nomogram. We also sought to assess the correlation between activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and Anti-FXa.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a single-center, observational cohort study conducted over a 20-month period that included all pediatric patients (<21 years) who received therapeutic unfractionated heparin and were monitored using an anti-FXa-based nomogram.

RESULTS

In total, 95 patients met prespecified inclusion criteria, and 1098 pairs of APTT and Anti-FXa measurements were performed. The median unfractionated heparin dose required to reach therapeutic Anti-FXa goal was significantly greater in infants compared with older children (P <.0001). The median time to achieve therapeutic Anti-FXa was 10 hours (range 2-96 hours) and was significantly shorter in patients who received a bolus compared with those who did not (P = .03). Five (5.3%) major bleeding events were noted. Age, peak Anti-FXa, peak APTT, lowest platelet count, and fibrinogen were not predictive of major and clinically relevant nonmajor bleeds. Moderate correlation between the APTT and Anti-FXa (r = 0.75; 95% CI 0.72-0.77) assays was appreciated.

CONCLUSIONS

Using an anti-FXa-based nomogram to monitor unfractionated heparin in children is feasible. Although moderate correlation was observed between the APTT and Anti-FXa assays, the APTT frequently overestimated heparin activity. Safety and efficacy of an Anti-FXa nomogram needs further validation.

Transplant Energize Me Patient Outcome (TEMPO): A Quality Improvement Project that Maintains Functional Mobility in Pediatric Patients Admitted for Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) remains the definite cure for many pediatric hematologic diseases but causes profound deconditioning, which impairs daily physical functioning and may lead to further health complications. The Transplant Energize Me Patient Outcome (TEMPO) project is a standard-of-care, quality improvement (QI) project whose primary objective is to maintain physical functional mobility and strength throughout admission for pediatric allogeneic HCT patients. Specifically, TEMPO incorporates individualized and developmentally appropriate exercises and activities that are administered by a multidisciplinary team, who objectively measure and record a patient's physical stamina at predetermined frequencies. Discipline-specific metrics at admission, at weekly intervals, at discharge, and at 100 days after graft infusion (D100) are recorded in templated flowsheets in the electronic medical record. As a secondary objective, resource utilization as measured by length of stay, duration of parenteral feeds and narcotics, readmission by D100, and infections was compared between TEMPO and historical control (pre-TEMPO) allogeneic HCT patients. TEMPO participation maintained physical endurance and functional strength throughout hospitalization, an effect that was significantly sustained or improved at D100. Resource utilization did not significantly differ between patient cohorts. Taken together, the TEMPO QI Project maintains physical functional mobility, strength, and endurance, thereby decreasing physical deconditioning in pediatric allogeneic HCT patients, an effect that is objectively sustained at D100.

A Novel Clinician-Orchestrated Virtual Reality Platform for Distraction During Pediatric Intravenous Procedures in Children With Hemophilia: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Needles are frequently required for routine medical procedures. Children with severe hemophilia require intensive intravenous (IV) therapy to treat and prevent life-threatening bleeding and undergo hundreds of IV procedures. Fear of needle-related procedures may lead to avoidance of future health care and poor clinical outcomes. Virtual reality (VR) is a promising distraction technique during procedures, but barriers to commercially available VR platforms for pediatric health care purposes have prevented widespread use.

Objective

We hypothesized that we could create a VR platform that would be used for pediatric hemophilia care, allow clinician orchestration, and be safe and feasible to use for distraction during IV procedures performed as part of complex health care.

Methods

We created a VR platform comprising wireless, adjustable, disposable headsets and a suite of remotely orchestrated VR games. The platform was customized for a pediatric hemophilia population that required hands-free navigation to allow access to a child’s hands or arms for procedures. A hemophilia nurse observing the procedure performed orchestration. The primary endpoint of the trial was safety. Preliminary feasibility and usability of the platform were assessed in a single-center, randomized clinical trial from June to December 2016. Participants were children with hemophilia aged 6-18 years. After obtaining informed consent, 25 patients were enrolled and randomized. Each subject, 1 caregiver, and 1 hemophilia nurse orchestrator assessed the degree of preprocedural nervousness or anxiety with an anchored, combined modified visual analog (VAS)/FACES scale. Each participant then underwent a timed IV procedure with either VR or standard of care (SOC) distraction. Each rater assessed the distraction methods using the VAS/FACES scale at the completion of the IV procedure, with questions targeting usability, engagement, impact on procedural anxiety, impact on procedural pain, and likability of the distraction technique. Participants, caregivers, and nurses also rated how much they would like to use VR for future procedures. To compare the length of procedure time between the groups, Mann-Whitney test was used.

Results

Of the 25 enrolled children, 24 were included in the primary analysis. No safety concerns or VR sickness occurred. The median procedure time was 10 (range 1-31) minutes in the VR group and was comparable to 9 (range 3-20) minutes in the SOC group (P=.76). Patients in both the groups reported a positive influence of distraction on procedural anxiety and pain. Overall, in 80% (34/45) of the VR evaluations, children, caregivers, and nurses reported that they would like to use VR for future procedures.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that an orchestrated, VR environment could be developed and safely used during pediatric hemophilia care for distraction during IV interventions. This platform has the potential to improve patient experience during medical procedures.

Trial Registration

Clinical Trials.gov NCT03507582; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03507582 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/73G75upA3)

Immune profiles of desmoplastic small round cell tumor and synovial sarcoma suggest different immunotherapeutic susceptibility upfront compared to relapse specimens

BACKGROUND

Desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT) and synovial sarcoma are rare tumors with dismal outcomes requiring new therapeutic strategies. Immunotherapies have shown promise in several cancer types, but have not been evaluated in DSRCT and synovial sarcoma. Because the immune microenvironment can provide indications of the inflammatory nature of tumors, immunohistochemical staining is able to assess the tumor immune infiltrates in both tumor types.

PROCEDURE

Using tissue microarrays of DSRCT and synovial sarcoma tumor samples, we detected tumoral HLA-A/B/C, beta-2-microglobulin(B2M), and PD-L1 expression, and quantified tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes expressing CD4, CD8, CD56, CD45RO, or FOXP3 by immunohistochemistry. We used staining intensity on a scale of 0-3 and percentage of tumor stained to determine HLA, B2M, and PD-L1 scores. We calculated the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) target score as HLA score × B2M score/100.

RESULTS

In diagnostic samples, we found high HLA and CTL target scores and low PD-L1 expression with decreased scores in recurrence for both tumor types. We found an increase in CD56⁺ natural killer cells in DSRCT samples from diagnosis to recurrence.

CONCLUSIONS

We found similar immunostimulatory profiles in DSRCT and synovial sarcoma. Our findings suggest that DSRCT and synovial sarcoma may be amenable to immunotherapies, albeit there was significant heterogeneity. Interestingly, HLA and CTL target scores decreased at recurrence, possibly reflecting immunoevasion. Our findings suggest both tumor types may be amendable to CTL-based therapies at diagnosis but less so at relapse. Our results support further investigation into the prognostic and predictive value of these findings in a larger dataset.

Re-induction chemotherapy regimens in patients with recurrent central nervous system mixed malignant germ cell tumors

BACKGROUND

The lack of a standard treatment approach has contributed to poor outcomes of patients with recurrent central nervous system (CNS) mixed malignant germ cell tumors (MMGCT). There are no data in the literature supporting optimal re-induction chemotherapy regimens that should be used for patients with recurrent CNS MMGCT.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review to explore the response rate of patients with recurrent CNS MMGCT to different re-induction chemotherapy regimens by searching PubMed from 1985 through November 2017. Tumors were classified according to Japanese, European, and North American prognostic group classifications determined at initial presentation.

RESULTS

Forty-two responses to various re-induction chemotherapy regimens reported in 38 patients were included. Two patients were inevaluable and their responses to re-induction chemotherapy were excluded. Thirty-five responses to various re-induction chemotherapy regimens were evaluable in 33 patients following a first relapse. Six (17%) responses were reported as complete or continuous complete responses, seven (20%) partial responses, two (6%) were stable disease, two (6%) were mixed responses, and 18 (51%) were progressive disease. Five of ten patients treated without platinum-based chemotherapy experienced tumor progression. There was a trend towards a higher rate of tumor progression among histological poor prognostic group patients, and among patients relapsing within 24 months of initial diagnosis; however, it was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

The histological prognostic group and time to relapse may affect the response to re-induction chemotherapy. However, further studies with larger sample size are needed to examine these associations and determine the optimal re-induction chemotherapy regimens for patients with recurrent MMGCT.

Hematologic Considerations and Management of Adolescent Girls with Heavy Menstrual Bleeding and Anemia in US Children's Hospitals

STUDY OBJECTIVE

To assess the frequency, severity, and inpatient management of girls admitted with heavy menstrual bleeding and iron deficiency anemia at US children's hospitals, with a focus on hematologic considerations.

DESIGN

Retrospective multicenter cohort study from October 2012 through September 2015.

SETTING

Children's hospitals submitting data to the Pediatric Health Information System.

PARTICIPANTS

Female patients, age 8-18 years, admitted with heavy menstrual bleeding and anemia as either a primary or secondary diagnosis. Patients with cancer, immune thrombocytopenic purpura, aplastic anemia, and pregnancy were excluded.

INTERVENTIONS AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Hemostatic evaluation; provision of iron therapy.

RESULTS

We identified 1183 admissions (1134 unique patients). Patients' median (interquartile range) age was 14 (11-17) years. Forty-one percent were Caucasian (n = 480), 31% African American (n = 371), and 26% Hispanic ethnicity (n = 310). Intensive care use occurred in 5% of admissions (n = 56). Hemostatic assessment was inconsistent; 15% (n = 182) had no such evaluation. Two-thirds (n = 797; 67%) involved transfusions, 37% (n = 433) received no inpatient iron therapy, and 17% (n = 197) received no hormonal or antifibrinolytic therapy. Hemostatic evaluation was associated with intensive care use: odds ratio (OR), 4.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-19.86; P = .03); emergency department visit: OR, 2.60 (95% CI, 1.86-3.65; P < .01); private insurance: OR, 1.62 (95% CI, 1.12-2.35; P = .01); and younger age: OR, 0.84 (95% CI, 0.77-0.92; P < .01).

CONCLUSION

Hundreds of girls with heavy menstrual bleeding and anemia are hospitalized at US children's hospitals each year with variable inpatient hematologic evaluation and management. Future guidelines should emphasize early identification of at-risk patients and promote effective implementation strategies to reduce the burden of this preventable complication.

Technical Considerations for Nephron-Sparing Surgery in Children: What Is Needed to Preserve Renal Units?

BACKGROUND

Chemotherapy is used preoperatively for children with bilateral Wilms tumor (BWT) or unilateral high-risk Wilms tumor (UHRWT) to promote tumor regression to facilitate renal preservation with nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). In adults, various surgical techniques have been described to preserve renal tissue. Few studies have examined the use of surgical adjuncts in NSS in children with renal tumors.

METHODS

We performed a multi-institutional retrospective review of patients with BWT or UHRWT. Patient demographics, tumor size at diagnosis, following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, utilization of surgical adjuncts including intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS), margin status, complications, renal function, and follow-up were recorded.

RESULTS

The cohort comprised 23 patients: 18 BWT, 3 UHRWT, and 2 patients with solitary kidney. Twenty-two of the 23 patients had successful NSS. IOUS was used 19 times, and seven had positive margins after surgery. Cooling/vascular isolation was used six times. At a median follow-up of 18 mo, median estimated glomerular filtration rate Schwartz was 126 mL/min/1.73 m² and median serum creatinine 0.39 mg/dL in the 22 patients who had successful NSS. There have been no tumor recurrences.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with BWT and UHRWT, surgical adjuncts such as cooling/vascular isolation are uncommonly performed. IOUS may be helpful but does not guarantee negative microscopic margins.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level 4, Case series with no comparison group.

Delays in diagnosis for children with newly diagnosed central nervous system tumors

Background

United States studies documenting time interval from symptom onset to definitive diagnosis for childhood central nervous system (CNS) tumors are more than a quarter-century old. The purpose of this study is to establish an accurate and contemporary Ohio baseline of the diagnostic interval for children with newly diagnosed CNS tumors.

Methods

Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for 301 children with newly diagnosed CNS tumors from January 2004 to August 2015 at Nationwide Children's Hospital. We obtained comprehensive data on 171 patients (56.8%). Records were reviewed for age, gender, tumor type, presenting symptoms, number of health care visits prior to diagnosis, time interval (in months) from onset of symptoms to definitive diagnosis, and any associated genetic syndromes.

Results

Of the 171 patients with newly diagnosed CNS tumors, 25 children (14.6%) had a known cancer predisposition syndrome (all with neurofibromatosis type 1). Among the remaining 146 children, the median and mean time intervals from symptom onset to definitive diagnosis were 42 days and 138 days (range < 1 to 2190 days), respectively.

Conclusions

We have documented and quantified the contemporary delays in diagnosis of childhood brain tumors in central Ohio to serve as a benchmark for our future planned interventions to reduce the time interval from symptom onset to diagnosis through adaptation of the United Kingdom HeadSmart program throughout the state of Ohio and ultimately throughout the United States.

VIncristine, irinotecan, and temozolomide in children and adolescents with relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma

BACKGROUND

The combination of vincristine, irinotecan, and temozolomide (VIT) is often used to treat children and adolescents with relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS); however, the outcome of these patients has not been previously described.

PROCEDURES

We sought to determine the response rate (RR) and progression-free survival (PFS) for patients with relapsed RMS treated with VIT by retrospective review of patients treated at five tertiary care hospitals. Prior treatment with irinotecan was permitted.

RESULTS

Among 19 patients with a median age of 8 years (range 2-17 years), 12 (63%) were males and 12 (63%) had embryonal histology. Median time to relapse from initial diagnosis was 16 months (range 2.8-45 months). VIT was used as first, second, third, or fourth line of therapy in four (21%), seven (37%), six (32%), and two (10%) patients, respectively. Four patients received VIT as adjuvant therapy following radiation and/or surgery. Therefore, among 15 evaluable patients, the best response to VIT was 0 (complete response, CR), 0 (partial response, PR), 4 (stable disease, SD), and 11 (progressive disease, PD) for an overall clinical benefit rate (CR + PR + SD) of 26.7% (95% CI: 7.8-55.1%). After a median follow-up of 8 months, 2 (10%) patients were alive without disease, 3 (16%) were alive with disease, and 14 (74%) patients died of PD. PFS at 3 months was 23% (95% CI: 5.7-46.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

VIT therapy in combination with adequate local control is associated with some disease control in patients with first relapse RMS and may be another reasonable option to offer patients as salvage therapy.

Cooperation of Oncolytic Herpes Virotherapy and PD-1 Blockade in Murine Rhabdomyosarcoma Models

Oncolytic virotherapy is an effective immunotherapeutic approach for cancer treatment via a multistep process including direct tumor cell lysis, induction of cytotoxic or apoptosis-sensitizing cytokines and promotion of antitumor T cell responses. Solid tumors limit the effectiveness of immunotherapeutics in diverse ways such as secretion of immunosuppressive cytokines and expression of immune inhibitory ligands to inhibit antitumor T cell function. Blocking programmed cell death protein (PD)-1 signaling, which mediates T cell suppression via engagement of its inhibitory ligands, PD-L1 or PD-L2, is of particular interest due to recent successes in many types of cancer. In syngeneic murine rhabdomyosarcoma models, we found that M3-9-M (MHC I high) but not 76-9 (MHC I low) tumors respond to oncolytic herpes simplex virus-1 (oHSV-1) and PD-1 blockade combination therapy. In addition, the therapeutic outcomes in M3-9-M tumor models correlated with the increased incidence of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells but not with the CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ regulatory T cell populations in the tumor. Overall, our data suggest the combination of PD-1 blockade and oHSV-1 may be an effective treatment strategy for childhood soft tissue sarcoma.

Intravenous iron therapy in non-anemic iron-deficient menstruating adolescent females with fatigue

Menstruating women, with or without underlying bleeding disorders, are at increased risk for developing iron deficiency-related fatigue, even in the absence of anemia. Oral iron therapy has limitations which include poor absorption and non-adherence due to gastrointestinal side effects. We performed a prospective clinical trial of post-menarchal adolescent females with iron-deficiency with or without mild anemia and fatigue who received a standardized regimen of intravenous iron sucrose. The baseline mean (SD) hemoglobin was 11.96 g dl(-1) (1.05) in 20 girls (ages 14-21 years); with a range of 10.3-14.1 g dl(-1) . In this cohort, intravenous iron was well tolerated and patients demonstrated a sustained increase in ferritin levels with means (SD) of 13.4 ng ml(-1) (13.1) at baseline to 141.5 ng ml(-1) (104.5) at 6 weeks and 85.2 ng ml(-1) (128.4) at 6 months after the infusions. We used a standardized (Peds QL(TM) Multidimensional) fatigue scale to objectively measure fatigue and proxy scores by parents with mean screening scores (SD) of 35.2 (16.8) and 31.9 (19.6), respectively. We demonstrated a clinically significant improvement both in patient as well as parent fatigue scores (in 19 out of 20 subjects) at 6 weeks (Mean (SD) 58.3 (21.3) [P < 0.0001] and 57 (24.4) [P < 0.0001], respectively); as well as 3 and 6 months after the iron infusions. In nonanemic patients, iron administration did not significantly influence hemoglobin concentration. Therefore, the fatigue-reducing effects of iron therapy reflect the nonhematological functions of iron. Am. J. Hematol. 91:973-977, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Factors associated with thrombosis in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

The risk of thrombosis is increased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Few studies have assessed factors associated with thrombosis within the pediatric SLE (pSLE) population. We sought to better characterize these associated factors in pSLE patients using the Childhood Arthritis & Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) registry.

METHODS

Within the CARRA registry, patients with a history of thrombosis were compared to those without. Univariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios. A multivariable logistic regression model was conducted that included variables from the univariate analysis that had a p value < 0.10 and other variables identified as clinically significant from published literature.

RESULTS

Among the 979 pSLE patients in the CARRA registry, 24 (2.5%) patients had a history of arterial thrombosis and 35 (3.6%) of venous thrombosis. In the univariate analysis, the odds ratio of having a thrombotic event were found to be significantly higher in patients with a history of vasculitis, avascular necrosis (AVN), or antiphospholipid antibody (aPL). Similar results were found for vasculitis, AVN, and aPL in the multivariable analysis.

CONCLUSION

Our study of pSLE patients suggests that vasculitis, positive APL, and AVN are associated with thrombotic events in this population.