Ergebnisse des Hypothermienetzwerks des Universitätsklinikums Dresden von 2010–2017. Entwicklung der Hypothermietherapie bei Neugeborenen in Deutschland

Einleitung Die Hypothermiebehandlung (TH) verbessert bei Neugeborenen mit hypoxisch-ischämischer Enzephalopathie (HIE) das Outcome und sollte bei Hinweisen für eine perinatale Asphyxie und Zeichen einer moderaten oder schweren HIE angewendet werden.

Material/Methode Die Häufigkeit der HIE und der Anwendung der TH wurde aus den Daten der Neonatalerhebung und den Daten des 2010 etablierten Hypothermieregisters extrahiert. Letztere wurden darüber hinaus zur Analyse des kurzfristigen Outcomes herangezogen.

Ergebnisse Zwischen 2010 und 2017 schlossen sich 106 der 213 (Stand März 2020) deutschen Perinatalzentren dem Register an. Die Rückantwortquote lag zwischen 22 und 60%. Im Register wurden pro Jahr im Median 164 (IQR 115–224) TH bei Neugeborenen mit HIE erfasst, in der Neonatalerhebung 517 (382–664) bei 543 (432–583) Fällen von HIE. Seit 2014 lag die Zahl der TH über den berichteten Fällen von HIE. Nach TH bei klassischer Indikationsstellung verstarben 10,4% (8–13%) der Neugeborenen. 81% (78–82%) der Neugeborenen wurden nach Hause entlassen, 3,6% (3–5%) in eine Rehabilitationseinrichtung bzw. 5,4% (5–7%) in eine andere Klinik verlegt. Bei Entlassung wurden 89% (87–89%) der Patienten ausschließlich oral ernährt.

Diskussion Nach Etablierung der TH in die klinische Routine stieg die Zahl der behandelten Neugeborenen kontinuierlich an. Aktuell liegt die Zahl der TH über der Anzahl der Neugeborenen mit HIE, was nur schwer zu erklären ist, da das Vorliegen einer moderaten oder schweren HIE Voraussetzung für die TH ist. Die Daten des Hypothermieregisters zeigen für den untersuchten Zeitraum keine deutlichen Veränderungen bezüglich Mortalität oder neurologischem Outcome.

Weaning Premature Infants from Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure - Current Practice and Scientific Evidence

Objective In the past decade, a number of trials have been conducted to determine the optimal strategy of weaning premature infants from nasal continuous airway pressure (nCPAP). However, a paucity of information exists on how weaning is actually performed in clinical routine. Aim of this study was to investigate the current practice of weaning premature infants from nCPAP in Germany. Methods An online survey was performed in German tertiary care neonatal units. Results All 160 German tertiary care units were contacted. Replies were retrieved from 85/160 (53%) units, of which 83/160 (52%) completed the questionnaire. 66/83 (80%) respondents indicated to wean without the use of formal written policies. In 44/83 (53%) units weaning decisions are made jointly between physicians and nurses, whereas physicians are the sole decision makers in 33/83 (40%) as are nurses in 6/83 (7%) units. Many units use more than one weaning strategy. 81/83 units (98%) gradually reduce nCPAP pressure as the initial step in the weaning process. 9/83 (11%) units stop nCPAP at standard criteria [CICADA (CeasIng nCpap At standarD criteriA) method] and 58/83 (70%) units use a cycling nCPAP on/off strategy. 52/83 (63%) of the responding units use nasal high flow at least at some point during the weaning process, either as a gradual weaning method or during nCPAP breaks. Conclusion Weaning strategies from nCPAP vary widely in German tertiary care neonatal units. It appears that evidence is still insufficient to promote a distinct weaning strategy which in turn highlights the urgent need for further adequately powered clinical trials.

[Female Preterm Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Fetal Megacystis due to Cloacal Dysgenesis After Conception by Intracytoplasmatic Sperm Injection - Case Report and Review of Literature]

Monozygotic twins were previously regarded as "identical". By now an increasing number of case reports of monozygotic but discordant twins have been reported, and therefore discordance between monozygotic twins is being investigated intensively. We report a case of female preterm monozygotic twins who were discordant for fetal megacystis due to cloacal dysgenesis. Pregnancy was achieved after intracytoplasmatic sperm injection and transfer of 2 embryos. By the first trimester fetal megacystis with consecutive oligohydramnios and hypoplasia of the lungs was diagnosed. Both foetuses had normal karyotypes. After delivery at 25+3 weeks of gestation due to premature labour, the affected child was treated palliatively and died within 2 hours. In the postmortem physical examination, a cloacal dysgenesis was detected. In the male foetus, megacystis is typically caused by obstructive uropathy. In the rarely affected female foetus, it usually results from complex urogenital malformations like cloacal dysgenesis which originates from disruption during gastrulation. We identified 10 case series of mono- or dizygotic twins who were discordant either for fetal megacystis or for cloacal dysgenesis. Issues like conception, zygosity, sex, karyotype and aetiology of fetal megacystis were not reported in all cases. Discordance between monozygotic twins for structural birth defects is closely linked to the twinning process itself. Assisted reproduction is said to generate a higher rate of monozygotic twin pregnancies and to be responsible for a higher prevalence of chromosomal aberrations or congenital malformations. With regard to conception, zygosity, sex, karyotype and combination of malformations, our case is unique.

Mucopolysaccharidosis VI: cardiac involvement and the impact of enzyme replacement therapy

OBJECTIVE

To describe cardiac abnormalities in patients with mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) VI and to evaluate the impact of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) on cardiac structure and function.

METHODS

Data from electrocardiographic and echocardiographic evaluations were retrospectively collected from patients with MPS VI who are followed up at the Children's Hospital of Mainz.

RESULTS

The study included 44 (16 male and 28 female) patients. At baseline, valvular regurgitation (mainly aortic and mitral) and left ventricular (LV) volume overload were present in over half of patients. Other common cardiac manifestations were sinus tachycardia, LV hypertrophy, concentric LV remodelling, and pulmonary hypertension. One patient had left atrial dilation and one had congestive heart failure. Interventricular septal wall thickness and LV posterior wall thickness were above normal in most patients. Twenty five patients had a pre-ERT and at least one follow-up visit after ERT start. Mean follow-up after ERT start was 5.6 (SD 2.3) years. Despite the late onset (mean age 14.6 years) of treatment, ERT appeared to improve or arrest the progression of LV remodelling and LV hypertrophy and suspend the progression of cardiac valve disease.

CONCLUSIONS

MPS VI is associated with an array of cardiac manifestations. ERT appears to have some impact on cardiac structure and function when started late in life, but may have better long-term results when started during early infancy.