Veno-occlusive disease after high-dose busulfan-melphalan in neuroblastoma.

Survival for high-risk neuroblastoma patients is still suboptimal. Although stem cell transplantation (SCT) is used, there is no consensus as to which conditioning regimen has the greatest efficacy and fewest toxicities. We assessed the incidence of and risk for hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) for neuroblastoma patients who underwent autologous SCT with busulfan and melphalan (BuMel) at eight centers following Children's Oncology Group (COG)-based induction chemotherapy. Data regarding the patients, SCT characteristics, busulfan steady-state concentrations, incidence of VOD, and survival were evaluated. VOD was defined using the modified Seattle criteria. Possible factors associated with VOD (age, busulfan-pharmacokinetic parameters, history of hepatic dysfunction, and day of neutrophil engraftment) were evaluated. Seventy five patients were included and 23 children (31%) developed VOD at a median of 19 days after SCT (range 14-27 days). VOD was the cause of death in 4 patients (5%). In a multivariable analysis, young age (OR 1.7 (95% CI: 1.16-2.56; p = 0.012)) and early day of neutrophil engraftment (OR 1.4 (95% CI: 1.08-2.14; p = 0.041) were associated with the development of VOD. Initial or cumulative busulfan steady-state concentration were not associated with VOD. We found that despite the use of intravenous busulfan with adjusted serum levels, the incidence of VOD remains high in pediatric neuroblastoma patients.

Investigation of Pediatric Anemia in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Objective To report on the prevalence and etiology of pediatric anemia in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). Method A retrospective chart review was conducted that included patients up to 19 years of age who presented for well child care and whose hemoglobin or hematocrit was checked in the CNMI from 2014 to 2015. Lab values, diagnoses and treatment plans, patient reported ethnicity, and follow-up results were collected from eligible patients. Results The records for 1483 pediatric patients who had 1584 well child visits were reviewed. The prevalence of anemia amongst all eligible patients was 8.0% (5.4-10.7). This included 292 9 to 18 months old patients, which is estimated to be 40% of the total pediatric population of CNMI in that age group. Among the 9 to 18 months old patients, the prevalence of anemia is 5.5% (2.6-8.4). Etiology of anemia was investigated and of the patients treated with iron, 55.2% had a documented response. The majority of those without documentation of improvement with iron were patients who were lost to follow-up. In addition, a total of 10 patients were found to have an alpha or beta thalassemia variant discovered initially by anemia screening or sibling tracing. Discussion In this United States Commonwealth, prevalence of anemia appears lower than prevalence reported for other independent Pacific Island nations and closer to that of the US. Thalassemia is documented within this population. Limitations to this data were use of a convenient sample that may be hampered by lack of presentation to well-child care. This study will guide future public health studies on anemia prevalence and can guide public health intervention decisions to improve pediatric care in the CNMI.

Understanding the evolving phenotype of vascular complications in telomere biology disorders.

Vascular complications such as bleeding due to gastrointestinal telangiectatic anomalies, pulmonary arteriovenous malformations, hepatopulmonary syndrome, and retinal vessel abnormalities are being reported in patients with telomere biology disorders (TBDs) more frequently than previously described. The international clinical care consortium of telomere-associated ailments and family support group Dyskeratosis Congenita Outreach, Inc. held a workshop on vascular abnormalities in the TBDs at the National Cancer Institute in October 2017. Clinicians and basic scientists reviewed current data on vascular complications, hypotheses for the underlying biology and developed new collaborations to address the etiology and clinical management of vascular complications in TBDs.

Comprehensive Review of Preschool Age Anemia in the Pacific Island Jurisdictions.

Anemia can be an indicator of poor nutrition and health, and it can have significant consequences. Children are disproportionately affected by anemia. This comprehensive review summarizes the available literature on anemia prevalence in young children in the islands of the Oceania region. The anemia prevalence, the criteria used for diagnosis, the date the data was reported, and the types of samples collected were reviewed. Anemia prevalence estimates were reported for eighteen of the Pacific Island Jurisdictions. From the fifteen data sources that were evaluable, anemia prevalence ranged from 12.3% to over 70%. A major limitation in the data is a lack of representative primary data from many of the jurisdictions in the region. Prevalance estimates reported for those jurisdictions are estimated by regression analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO). Moreover, the primary data available does not use standardized reporting criteria. Nevertheless, this review serves as a new baseline for further investigations on the prevalence of anemia and a baseline for evaluating public health prevention and treatment measures to detect and improve anemia prevalence in the Pacific.

Capacity Building for Rare Bleeding Disorders in the Remote Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The US Pacific Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands is home to an underserved hemophilia population. We developed a strategy in 2014 to build sustainable island-wide medical, patient and family, and community support for this rare disease. Collaboration with regional bleeding disorder leadership galvanized a weeklong conference series. More than 200 participants attended discipline-specific seminars; pre-post test evaluations documented educational benefits. This time-concentrated island-wide education intervention promoted the rapid identification of new cases and stimulated sustainable bleeding disorder care development. The education series proved feasible, efficient, and effective in increasing knowledge and reducing patient and professional isolation, serving as a model for improving capacity for orphan diseases (those that affect fewer than 200 000 people in any particular country) in underresourced areas.

Rate of decline of ferritin in patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis as a prognostic variable for mortality.

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is difficult to diagnose and treat. Highly elevated ferritin is strongly associated with HLH and levels may provide a prognostic marker. A comprehensive review of ferritin data from our patients during treatment was analyzed with respect to mortality. A patient was 17 times more likely to die when percent ferritin decrease was less than 50% as compared to a 96% or greater decrease as indicated with multivariate logistic modeling. Higher maximum ferritin levels in the first 3 weeks also contributed to the odds of death (OR = 5.6; 90% CI = 1.2-24.9). Regular ferritin measurements may be useful predicting outcomes in HLH patients.