[Kawasaki disease - a new manifestation of COVID-19 in children]

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Europe and America, the incidence of Kawasaki disease has significantly increased, which has aroused concern among pediatricians and parents. COVID-19 can cause inflammation reactions of multiple organs, which is similar to the systemic vasculitis of Kawasaki disease, and even COVID-19 can cause skin rash on the extremities of the limbs, which is also similar to Kawasaki disease. The cause of Kawasaki disease is currently unclear, and it cannot be ruled out that COVID-19 is associated with an increased incidence of Kawasaki disease. Therefore, during the epidemic of COVID-19, if children have symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease, intravenous immunoglobulin is recommended as early as possible to reduce the incidence of coronary artery lesions.

[Clinical efficacy of different doses of gamma globulin combined with glucocorticoid in treatment of moderate/severe acute Guillain-Barré syndrome in children: a comparative analysis]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of intravenous injection of low-dose versus high-dose gamma globulin combined with glucocorticoid pulse therapy in the treatment of children with moderate/severe acute Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

METHODS

A total of 100 children with moderate/severe acute GBS were randomly assigned to low-dose group (n=48) and high-dose group (n=52). The children in the low-dose and high-dose groups were treated with 0.2 g/(kg · d) and 0.4 g/(kg · d) gamma globulin respectively combined with methylprednisolone. The two groups were compared in terms of the time to improvements of symptoms after treatment, serum levels of inflammatory factors, proportion of children undergoing invasive ventilation, treatment response rate, and adverse events.

RESULTS

After 5 days of treatment, the low- and high-dose groups had significant reductions in serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein, and there were no significant differences in the reductions of these markers between the two groups. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the time to recovery of respiratory muscle paralysis, time to an improvement in muscle strength of one grade, time to recovery of sensory disturbance, and length of hospital stay. There was no significant difference in the treatment response rate between the low- and high-dose groups (90% vs 92%). There were also no significant differences in the incidence rates of pyrexia, headache, nausea, and palpitation between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-dose versus high-dose gamma globulin combined with methylprednisolone pulse therapy have comparable clinical efficacy and safety in the treatment of children with moderate/severe acute GBS.

[Clinical effect of gamma globulin pulse therapy for abdominal Henoch-Schönlein purpura in children]

OBJECTIVE

To study the clinical effect of high-dose gamma globulin pulse therapy for abdominal Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).

METHODS

Thirty-three children with abdominal HSP were randomly assigned to dexamethasone group (15 children) and gamma globulin group (18 children). The children in the dexamethasone group were treated with dexamethasone and conventional treatment, and those in the gamma globulin group were treated with high-dose gamma globulin pulse therapy in addition to the conventional treatment. Clinical outcome and recurrence rate were observed in both groups.

RESULTS

Compared with the dexamethasone group, the gamma globulin group had a significantly shorter onset time of rash, a significantly shorter time to complete regression of rash, a significantly shorter time to abdominal pain remission, and a significantly shorter time to disappearance of bloody stool, as well as comparable time to vomiting remission and length of hospital stay. The gamma globulin group had a significantly higher response rate than the dexamethasone group (95% vs 65%; P<0.05) and a significantly lower recurrence rate within 6 months than the dexamethasone group (5.6% vs 33.3%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

High-dose gamma globulin pulse therapy has a marked clinical effect in the treatment of abdominal HSP. It is safe and reliable and has a low recurrence rate, and therefore, it holds promise for clinical application.