ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Methotrexate is renally excreted. HDMTX (high dose-methotrexate)-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a non-oliguric decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) heralded by an acute rise in serum creatinine. Moreover, AKI is also a frequent complication of COVID-19. Among our patients treated with HDMTX, some of these developed AKI during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, we wondered whether our patients' kidney failure might have been triggered by their underlying SARS-CoV-2 positivity. METHODS: Data were collected from the database at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan (Italy) regarding patients who matched the following selective criteria: (a) treatment with HDMTX during the pandemic period; (b) SARS-CoV-2 infection during the treatment; (c) development of AKI during HDMTX treatment and SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: From March 2020 to March 2022, a total of 23 patients were treated with HDMTX; 3 patients were treated with HDMTX during SARS-CoV-2 infection and all 3 developed AKI. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical manifestations associated with this virus are many, so we are not yet able to lower our guard and rule out this infection as a cause of clinical manifestations with any certainty.
ABSTRACT
(1) Background: When the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, changes had to be made to several management aspects at our Pediatric Oncology Unit. We investigated how the families perceived these changes. (2) Methods: Two questionnaires were developed at the Pediatric Oncology Unit of the Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori in Milan in order to explore how the pandemic had affected the experience of patients who had been or were being treated at our hospital, as well as their families. These questionnaires were administered to three groups of individuals. (3) Results: Between July and October 2020, 120 questionnaires were administered to parents of patients. The impact of school closures and the impossibility of attending sports and social activities outside the hospital were regarded as important, and it was reported that 77.5% of parents judged social distancing to have affected their children. Regarding the changes introduced in the management of the ward and outpatient clinic, most parents' opinions were positive. Differences in the opinions expressed by Groups 2 and 3 were statistically significant on the topics of relationships in the ward and staff workload. The aspect most negatively affected by the pandemic was the support that patients' parents were able to give each other. Regardless of whether patients were treated before the pandemic or after the first lockdown, all parents indicated strong degrees of satisfaction with the care received and the organizational arrangements. (4) Conclusions: The results of our study point us in the right direction to further improve our daily work and better respond to the needs of our patients and their families.
ABSTRACT
During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, oncologists have managed patients at higher risk of having a severe course of this infection. This raises new questions about their correct management, as well as the difficulty of distinguishing tumor/treatments complications from those related to COVID-19. We report a case of an 11-year-old boy undergoing treatment for T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma who experienced a prolonged COVID-19 course. Oncologic therapy was continued without significant changes compared to the initially planned treatment. No relevant complications occurred. COVID-19 convalescent plasma was administered, resulting in a positive antibody titer after 24 days.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin , Male , Child , Humans , COVID-19/complications , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemics , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/complications , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/diagnosis , Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin/therapy , COVID-19 SerotherapyABSTRACT
The article describes how adolescents with cancer utilized an artistic approach to discuss about their social isolation caused by disease and treatment. With the help of professionals, 17 young patients closed in their isolation room described their ideal room (a bit real, a bit of a fantasy place) producing texts and images, subsequently put together into a book. In these days when people are forced to social isolation by the lockdown related to corovavirus disease 2019 pandemic, young patients teach us meaningful life lessons: how social confinement can become an opportunity to focus on yourself, and what is really important in life.
Subject(s)
Art Therapy , COVID-19 , Neoplasms/psychology , Social Isolation , Adolescent , COVID-19/epidemiology , Emotions , Female , Humans , Male , Pandemics , SARS-CoV-2 , Young AdultSubject(s)
COVID-19/epidemiology , Delayed Diagnosis , Neoplasms/diagnosis , Pandemics , Adolescent , Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis , Central Nervous System Neoplasms/diagnosis , Child , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Italy/epidemiology , Lymphoma/diagnosis , Neoplasms/epidemiology , Pediatrics , SARS-CoV-2 , Sarcoma/diagnosis , Young AdultSubject(s)
Betacoronavirus , Coronavirus Infections , Neoplasms , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral , COVID-19 , Child , Humans , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
The rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 epidemic in Italy, in particular in the Milan focal point, required drastic measures and led to panic in the population. While in our center we did not change our approach to the treatment of our young patients with cancer, we developed a qualitative survey to assess their perception of the risk and level of stress. The survey showed that a relatively large proportion of young patients felt personally at risk of severe complications. We believe that we need to adequately inform our patients, focusing on hygienic measures and personal protection and prompt reporting of any suspicious symptoms.