[Nephrolithiasis and topiramate]. / Nefrolitiasis y topiramato.

INTRODUCTION: Topiramate (TPM) is a new antiepileptic drug whose multiple mechanisms of action justify both its broad therapeutic spectrum and its increasingly widespread use in childhood epilepsy. TPM acts as a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and, although this does not affect its effectiveness as an antiepileptic, it does account for certain side effects such as nephrolithiasis. The frequency of nephrolithiasis secondary to TPM in childhood is unknown and we have only found reports of five cases in children. CASE REPORTS: We describe two cases of medication-resistant infantile epilepsy--a 3-year-old female with Dravet's syndrome and a male aged 4.5 years with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. In both cases the decision was made to introduce TPM as add-on therapy after a prolonged therapeutic programme; a high degree of effectiveness was achieved in both patients. Nevertheless, the two patients developed nephrolithiasis secondary to TPM, which in the second case was related to the simultaneous treatment with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), while no known favouring factor was found in the first patient. CONCLUSIONS: We outline the physiopathogenic mechanism explaining nephrolithiasis secondary to TPM, the risk factors involved and the therapeutic and preventive options available in dealing with this side effect, which occurs in a low percentage of cases but which usually means stopping administration of this therapy. We therefore believe it necessary to analyse the risk factors for nephrolithiasis before prescribing the drug and we suggest that generalised preventive measures should be implemented, especially in children who are carriers of encephalopathies or conditions that reduce mobility.

Nefrolitiasis y topiramato / Nephrolithiasis and topiramate

Introducción. El topiramato (TPM) es un nuevo antiepiléptico cuyo mecanismo de acción múltiple justifica tanto su amplio espectro terapéutico como su empleo cada vez mayor en la epilepsia infantil. Aunque no influye en su eficacia antiepiléptica, el TPM inhibe la anhidrasa carbónica, efecto que es el responsable de reacciones adversas como la nefrolitiasis. La frecuencia de la nefrolitiasis secundaria al TPM en la infancia es desconocida y únicamente hemos encontrado cinco casos comunicados en niños. Casos clínicos. Se presentan dos casos de epilepsia infantil refractaria al tratamiento farmacológico, una niña de 3 años con síndrome de Dravet y un niño de 4,5 años con síndrome de Lennox-Gastaut, en los que después de un prolongado programa terapéutico se decide introducir TPM en terapia añadida, obteniendo en ambos pacientes un elevado grado de eficacia. No obstante, los dos desarrollan nefrolitiasis secundaria al TPM, que en el segundo caso relacionamos con el tratamiento simultáneo con hormona corticotropa (ACTH) no existiendo un factor favorecedor conocido en el primero. Conclusiones. Se hace una exposición del mecanismo fisiopatogénico de la nefrolitiasis secundaria al TPM, de los factores de riesgo implicados y de las opciones terapéuticas y preventivas de este efecto adverso, que representa un porcentaje muy bajo, pero que obliga usualmente a prescindir de esta alternativa terapéutica, por lo que creemos que se deben analizar los factores de riesgo de nefrolitiasis antes de prescribir este fármaco y que se deben generalizar las medidas preventivas, especialmente en los niños portadores de encefalopatías o de patologías que reduzcan la movilidad (AU)

Introduction. Topiramate (TPM) is a new antiepileptic drug whose multiple mechanisms of action justify both its broad therapeutic spectrum and its increasingly widespread use in childhood epilepsy. TPM acts as a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and, although this does not affect its effectiveness as an antiepileptic, it does account for certain side effects such as nephrolithiasis. The frequency of nephrolithiasis secondary to TPM in childhood is unknown and we have only found reports of five cases in children. Case reports. We describe two cases of medication-resistant infantile epilepsy – a 3-year-old female with Dravet’s syndrome and a male aged 4.5 years with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. In both cases the decision was made to introduce TPM as add-on therapy after a prolonged therapeutic programme; a high degree of effectiveness was achieved in both patients. Nevertheless, the two patients developed nephrolithiasis secondary to TPM, which in the second case was related to the simultaneous treatment with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), while no known favouring factor was found in the first patient. Conclusions. We outline the physiopathogenic mechanism explaining nephrolithiasis secondary to TPM,the risk factors involved and the therapeutic and preventive options available in dealing with this side effect, which occurs ina low percentage of cases but which usually means stopping administration of this therapy. We therefore believe it necessaryto analyse the risk factors for nephrolithiasis before prescribing the drug and we suggest that generalised preventivemeasures should be implemented, especially in children who are carriers of encephalopathies or conditions that reduce mobility (AU)

[Intrapleural urokinase in the treatment of parapneumonic effusions]. / Utilidad de la urocinasa intrapleural en el tratamiento del derrame pleural paraneumónico.

INTRODUCTION: Intrapleural fibrinolytic instillation has been used in the treatment of loculated pleural effusions and empyemas and has reduced the need for surgical intervention. Currently, the most commonly used fibrinolytic is urokinase, although the doses have not yet been standardized in children. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of urokinase in the treatment of infectious pleural effusions in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed of children with infectious pleural effusions admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between January 2000 and December 2003. Age, sex, clinical features, laboratory tests, response to urokinase treatment and clinical course during hospital stay were analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-one children were treated. The mean age was 38.1 months (SD: 22). There were 18 boys and 13 girls. The most frequent month of diagnosis was November and the number of admission significantly increased from 2002 onwards. The most frequent antibiotic therapy used before admission to the PICU was cefotaxime associated with vancomycin (41 %), followed by cefotaxime alone (16 %). Positive cultures for Streptococcus pneumoniae were found in 11 patients (35 %). Pleural loculation was found in 14 patients (45 %). Treatment with intrapleural urokinase was used in 23 patients (74 %). The mean chest tube drainage was 140 ml (SD: 175) in the 24 hours before urokinase instillation and was 406 ml (SD: 289) in the 48 hours after fibrinolytic therapy (p < 0.05). Twenty-one patients (91 %) who received urokinase treatment had a good response. There were no complications during the treatment. The mean length of stay in the PICU was 5.8 days (SD: 2.6). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of complicated pleural effusions due to S. pneumoniae has increased in the last few years, despite antibiotic therapy. Intrapleural urokinase is an effective treatment, including in empyemas without loculation. None of our patients required thoracotomy and there were few adverse effects.

Utilidad de la urocinasa intrapleural en el tratamiento del derrame pleural paraneumónico / Intrapleural urokinase in the treatment of parapneumonic effusions

Introducción: La instilación intrapleural de agentes fibrinolíticos se ha utilizado como tratamiento de derrames pleurales tabicados y de empiemas, disminuyendo la necesidad de intervención quirúrgica. La urocinasa es el fibrinolítico más utilizado aunque en pediatría las dosis no están claramente estandarizadas. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la utilidad de la urocinasa intrapleural como tratamiento de los derrames pleurales complicados. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de los derrames pleurales ingresados en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos (UCIP) entre enero de 2000 y diciembre de 2003. Se recogieron las variables de edad, sexo, sintomatología, pruebas complementarias, respuesta al tratamiento con urocinasa y evolución durante su ingreso. Resultados: Se estudiaron 31 casos, la edad media fue de 38,1 meses (desviación estándar [DE]: 22); 18 varones y 13 mujeres. El mes de mayor incidencia fue noviembre, y existió un aumento significativo del número de ingresos a partir del año 2002. El tratamiento antibiótico más frecuente antes del ingreso en UCIP fue la asociación de cefotaxima y vancomicina (41 %), seguido de cefotaxima (16 %). Se obtuvieron cultivos positivos a S. pneumoniae en 11 casos (35 %). Se demostró derrame tabicado en 14 casos (45 %). El tratamiento con urocinasa intrapleural se realizó en 23 casos (74 %), observándose un aumento significativo del drenaje pleural tras su aplicación, con un drenaje medio 24 h previo a la urocinasa de 140 ml (DE: 175) frente a 406 ml (DE: 289) 48 h después (p < 0,05). Respondieron favorablemente al tratamiento 21 casos (91 %) y no existieron complicaciones importantes durante su administración. La duración media del drenaje torácico fue de 5,2 días (DE: 2,97). La estancia media en la UCIP fue de 5,8 días (DE: 2,6). Conclusiones: Existe una mayor incidencia en los últimos años de derrames pleurales complicados secundarios a S. pneumoniae a pesar del tratamiento antibiótico. La urocinasa intrapleural es un tratamiento efectivo incluso en empiemas no tabicados, no precisando en ningún caso la intervención quirúrgica y con escasos efectos secundarios

Introduction: Intrapleural fibrinolytic instillation has been used in the treatment of loculated pleural effusions and empyemas and has reduced the need for surgical intervention. Currently, the most commonly used fibrinolytic is urokinase, although the doses have not yet been standardized in children. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utility of urokinase in the treatment of infectious pleural effusions in children. Material and methods: A retrospective study was performed of children with infectious pleural effusions admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) between January 2000 and December 2003. Age, sex, clinical features, laboratory tests, response to urokinase treatment and clinical course during hospital stay were analyzed. Results: Thirty-one children were treated. The mean age was 38.1 months (SD: 22). There were 18 boys and 13 girls. The most frequent month of diagnosis was November and the number of admission significantly increased from 2002 onwards. The most frequent antibiotic therapy used before admission to the PICU was cefotaxime associated with vancomycin (41 %), followed by cefotaxime alone (16 %). Positive cultures for Streptococcus pneumoniae were found in 11 patients (35 %). Pleural loculation was found in 14 patients (45 %). Treatment with intrapleural urokinase was used in 23 patients (74 %). The mean chest tube drainage was 140 ml (SD: 175) in the 24 hours before urokinase instillation and was 406 ml (SD: 289) in the 48 hours after fibrinolytic therapy (p < 0.05). Twenty-one patients (91 %) who received urokinase treatment had a good response. There were no complications during the treatment. The mean length of stay in the PICU was 5.8 days (SD: 2.6). Conclusions: The incidence of complicated pleural effusions due to S. pneumoniae has increased in the last few years, despite antibiotic therapy. Intrapleural urokinase is an effective treatment, including in empyemas without loculation. None of our patients required thoracotomy and there were few adverse effects