Caracterización de pacientes pediátricos con neutropenia enviados a un hospital de referencia / Characterization of neutropenic pediatric patients sent to a referral centre

La neutropenia es un motivo relativamente frecuente de referencia al Servicio de Inmunología y Reumatología Pediátrica del Hospital Nacional de Niños; el estudio pretende caracterizar los casos de neutropenia referidos a este Servicio en el periodo comprendido entre noviembre de 1988 y junio de 2008. Métodos: Se estudiaron 84 pacientes entre 0 y 12 años de edad, referidos entre el 6 de noviembre de 1988 y el 1 de junio de 2008. Se efectuó un análisis descriptivo global de las características presentadas por estos pacientes en términos de evolución clínica, patrón de infección, gérmenes más frecuentes causantes de infección, complicaciones y tratamiento. Resultados: El 52.2 por ciento de los pacientes analizados resolvieron su neutropenia espontáneamente, por lo que fueron catalogados como neutropenia transitoria; el 21.7 por ciento de los casos evolucionó como neutropenia cíclica; el 13 por ciento de los pacientes fueron catalogados como neutropenia crónica benigna; el 7.2 por ciento evolucionaron como neutropenia crónica grave sintomática; el 2.9 por ciento tuvieron neutropenia asociada a glucogenosis tipo 1B, y el 2.9 por ciento de los casos no fueron clasificables en las categorías propuestas. El 56.5 por ciento de los casos se asoció a un patrón de infección anormal, sea por un incremento enla frecuencia, mayor gravedad, compromiso multisistémico o presencia de microorganismos oportunistas. El sistema más afectado por infección fue la vía respiratoria superior...

Neutropenia is a relatively common cause of patient referral to the Immunology and Pediatric Rheumatology Department of the National Children’s Hospital. The present study characterizes the cases of neutropenia referred to this department between November 1988 andJune 2008. Methods: Eighty four patients between 0 and 12 years of age, were referred from November 6th, 1988 and June 1st, 2008. We performed a comprehensive descriptive analysis of the characteristics exhibited by these patients in terms of clinical course, pattern of infection, mostcommon causative germs, complications and treatment applied. Results: Neutropenia resolved spontaneously in 52.2% of the patients, and they were classified as transient neutropenia, 21.7% of the cases developed cyclic neutropenia, 13% of werecategorized as benign chronic neutropenia, 7.2% developed severe chronic symptomatic neutropenia, 2.9% had neutropenia associated with type 1B glycogenosis and 2.9% of the caseswere not classifiable in any of the proposed categories. More than 50% of the cases were associated with an abnormal pattern of infection in terms of frequency, severity, multiplicity ofsystems involved, or the presence of opportunistic microorganisms...

The possible cost effectiveness of peripheral blood stem cell mobilization with clophosphamide and the late addition of G-CSF

The purpose of this study was to develop a cost-effective protocol for the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in patients with malignancy. Thirty consecutive patients were randomized to mobilize PBSC with the late addition of a standard 250 microg dose of G-CSF (Neutrogen) from day 8 or early addition of the same dose of G-CSF from day 2, following cyclophosphamide (CY) 4 g/m2. The median yield of CD34+ cells from evaluated patients was 7.87 x 10(6)/kg (range, 2.06-27.25), collected in a median of four apheresis (range, 2-9). Target CD34 + cell doses > or = 2.0 x 10(6)/kg were achieved in all patients able to be evaluated. There were no statistically significant differences in CD34+ cell yields or toxicities. Overall engraftment occurred with median days to neutrophils > or = 0.5 x 10(9)/L or platelets > 20 x 10(9)/L of 11 and 17 days, respectively. However, the duration of G-CSF administration was markedly shorter in the late use of G-CSF group than in the early use of G-CSF group, with a median of 9 days compared with 15 days (p>0.001). PBSC harvesting after priming with CY plus delayed use of G-CSF made it a safe and cost-effective procedure.