Genotypic Approaches to Therapy in Children (GATC): using information technology to improve drug safety.

Adverse drug reactions (ADRs) are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Current models of ADR surveillance have repeatedly demonstrated little pragmatic value to practicing clinicians. ADR reporting rates in the US and Canada suggest that only 5% of ADRs are reported. The Genotypic Approaches to Therapy in Children (GATC) network was established to identify and solve drug safety problems in paediatrics. We hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms underlie a significant portion of concentration-dependent ADRs in children. Our objective was to establish an ADR active surveillance network in paediatric hospitals across Canada. Surveillance clinicians evaluate clinical information from ADR cases and drug-matched controls, and collected DNA samples from all patients. The surveillance network will enable the identification of predictive genomic-markers for ADRs. With this knowledge, children at risk can be identified before therapy is initiated and enable personalized adjustments to therapy based on genetic make-up.

Cardiac performance in pediatric near-drowning.

Between July 1985 and December 1986, 29 near-drowned children ranging in age between 6 months and 13 yr were admitted to the Pediatric ICU of Huntington Memorial Hospital. Eight patients suffered cardiopulmonary arrest and had an admission Glasgow Coma Score of 3 or 4. Hemodynamic monitoring was performed on five of these patients. Three received cerebral resuscitation with controlled hyperventilation, hypothermia, pentobarbital, and mannitol because of intracranial hypertension. After CPR, a low cardiac index (CI) and high systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI) were found. When cerebral resuscitative therapy was initiated later, it caused a reduction of SVRI, CI, mean arterial pressure, and cerebral perfusion pressure. Fluid volume therapy and inotropic cardiac support was necessary to maintain adequate cerebral perfusion pressure. These observations indicate that cerebral resuscitative therapy can affect cardiovascular function. The hemodynamic depressive effects might even worsen the outcome. For this reason, it is advisable to obtain CI and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure to optimize cerebral perfusion and potentially neurologic outcome.