Cytomegalovirus Infection under a Hybrid Strategy in Pediatric Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of a hybrid prophylactic strategy to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in pediatric liver transplantation (LT) patients. METHODS: CMV DNAemia was regularly monitored by quantitative nucleic acid amplification test (QNAT) and was quantified in all children. CMV infection and disease were defined according to the International Consensus Guidelines. The hybrid strategy against CMV infection consisted of universal 3-week prophylaxis and preemptive treatment of intravenous ganciclovir regardless of the recipient's serostatus. RESULTS: A total of 143 children who underwent living donor LT were managed using the hybrid strategy. The overall incidence of CMV infection by QNAT was 48.3% (n=69/143). The highest CMV DNAemia positivity was observed in 49.2% (n=60/122) of children in the D+/R+ group, followed by 46.7% (n=7/15) in the D+/R− group. CMV disease was noted in 26.1% (n=18/69) patients. Forty-three (62.3%) children had undergone preemptive therapy consisting of intravenous ganciclovir. No symptomatic patients developed tissue-invasive disease, resulting in no CMV-associated mortality. CONCLUSION: The incidence of CMV infection was high in pediatric LT patients despite the hybrid strategy. However, tissue-invasive disease in pediatric LT did not occur.

Short-Term Outcome of Infliximab Therapy in Pediatric Crohn's Disease: A Single-Center Experience / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: Studies on the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) in a large population of pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are limited, and prognostic factors are not well-known. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of IFX in pediatric patients with CD and to identify factors associated with poor prognosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed medical data of 594 pediatric patients with CD between 1987 and 2013 in a tertiary center. Of these, 156 children treated with IFX were enrolled and were followed up for at least a year with intact data. Outcomes of induction and maintenance, classified as failure or clinical response, were evaluated on the tenth and 54th week of IFX therapy. RESULTS: We treated 156 pediatric patients with CD with IFX, and the median duration of IFX therapy was 47 months. For IFX induction therapy, 134 (85.9%) patients experienced clinical response on the 10th week. Among the 134 patients who showed response to induction, 111 (82.8%) patients maintained the clinical response on the 54th week. In multivariate analysis, low hematocrit (p=0.046) at the time of IFX initiation was associated with the failure of IFX induction. For IFX maintenance therapy, longer duration from the initial diagnosis to IFX therapy (p=0.017) was associated with maintenance failure on the 54th week. CONCLUSION: We have shown the acceptable outcomes of IFX in a large cohort of pediatric CD patients in Korea. Hematocrit and early introduction of IFX may be prognostic factors for the outcomes of IFX.

Short-Term Outcome of Infliximab Therapy in Pediatric Crohn's Disease: A Single-Center Experience / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

PURPOSE: Studies on the efficacy of infliximab (IFX) in a large population of pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD) are limited, and prognostic factors are not well-known. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes of IFX in pediatric patients with CD and to identify factors associated with poor prognosis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed medical data of 594 pediatric patients with CD between 1987 and 2013 in a tertiary center. Of these, 156 children treated with IFX were enrolled and were followed up for at least a year with intact data. Outcomes of induction and maintenance, classified as failure or clinical response, were evaluated on the tenth and 54th week of IFX therapy. RESULTS: We treated 156 pediatric patients with CD with IFX, and the median duration of IFX therapy was 47 months. For IFX induction therapy, 134 (85.9%) patients experienced clinical response on the 10th week. Among the 134 patients who showed response to induction, 111 (82.8%) patients maintained the clinical response on the 54th week. In multivariate analysis, low hematocrit (p=0.046) at the time of IFX initiation was associated with the failure of IFX induction. For IFX maintenance therapy, longer duration from the initial diagnosis to IFX therapy (p=0.017) was associated with maintenance failure on the 54th week. CONCLUSION: We have shown the acceptable outcomes of IFX in a large cohort of pediatric CD patients in Korea. Hematocrit and early introduction of IFX may be prognostic factors for the outcomes of IFX.

Long-term efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone therapy in short-statured patients with Noonan syndrome

PURPOSE: Noonan syndrome (NS) is characterized by short stature, heart anomalies, developmental delays, dysmorphic features, cryptorchidism, and coagulation defects. Several studies reported the short-term effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) treatment on the improvement of height. This study was performed to evaluate the long-term efficacy of rhGH in children with NS in Korea. METHODS: This study included 15 prepubertal NS children who received rhGH subcutaneously at a dose of 50-75 µg/kg/day for 6 days a week for at least >3 years. Preand posttreatment data, such as height, weight, bone age, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) levels, were collected every 6 months. RESULTS: Chronologic age and bone age at the start of treatment were 7.97±1.81 and 5.09±2.12 years, respectively. Height standard deviation score (SDS) was increased from -2.64±0.64 to -1.54±1.24 years after 3 years (P<0.001). Serum IGF-1 SDS levels were elevated from -1.28±1.03 to -0.10±0.94 (P<0.001). Height SDS was more increased in subjects without PTPN11 mutations compared to those with mutations after 3 years (P=0.012). However, the other parameters, including bone age, IGF-1 SDS, and IGFBP-3 SDS, were not significantly different between patients with and without PTPN11 mutations. CONCLUSION: Although this study included a relatively small number of patients, long-term rhGH therapy in NS patients was safe and effective at improving height, growth velocity, and serum IGF-1 levels, in accordance with previous studies. However, the meticulous monitoring of potential adverse events is still needed because of high dose of rhGH and preexisting hyperactivity of RAS-MAPK pathway. Patients with PTPN11 mutations demonstrated a decreased response to rhGH therapy compared to those without mutations.

Long-term follow-up on Cushing disease patient after transsphenoidal surgery

Cushing disease is caused by excessive adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) production by the pituitary adenoma. Transsphenoidal surgery is its first-line treatment. The incidence of Cushing disease in children and adolescents is so rare that long-term prognoses have yet to be made in most cases. We followed-up on a 16-year-old male Cushing disease patient who presented with rapid weight gain and growth retardation. The laboratory findings showed increased 24-hour urine free cortisol and lack of overnight cortisol suppression by low-dose dexamethasone test. The serum cortisol and 24-hour urine free cortisol, by high-dose dexamethasone test, also showed a lack of suppression, and a bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling suggested lateralization of ACTH secretion from the right-side pituitary gland. However, after a right hemihypophysectomy by the transsphenoidal approach, the 24-hour urine free cortisol levels were persistently high. Thus the patient underwent a total hypophysectomy, since which time he has been treated with hydrocortisone, levothyroxine, recombinant human growth hormone, and testosterone enanthate. Intravenous bisphosphonate for osteoporosis had been administered for three years. At his current age of 26 years, his final height had attained the target level range; his bone mineral density was normal, and his pubic hair was Tanner stage 4. This report describes the long-term treatment course of a Cushing disease patient according to growth profile, pubertal status, and responses to hormone replacement therapy. The clinical results serve to emphasize the importance of growth optimization, puberty, and bone health in the treatment management of Cushing disease patients who have undergone transsphenoidal surgery.