Pregnancy outcome after treatment for Wilms tumor: a report from the national Wilms tumor long-term follow-up study.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of prior treatment with radiation therapy or chemotherapy for unilateral Wilms tumor (WT) diagnosed during childhood on pregnancy complications, birth weight, and the frequency of congenital malformations in live-born offspring. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed pregnancy outcomes among female survivors and partners of male survivors of WT treated on National Wilms Tumor Studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 by using a maternal questionnaire and a review of both maternal and offspring medical records. RESULTS: We received reports of 1,021 pregnancies with duration of 20 weeks or longer, including 955 live-born singletons, for whom 700 sets of maternal and offspring medical records were reviewed. Rates of hypertension complicating pregnancy (International Classification of Diseases [ICD] code 642), early or threatened labor (ICD-644) and malposition of the fetus (ICD-652) increased with increasing radiation dose in female patients. The percentages of offspring weighing less than 2,500 g at birth and of those having less than 37 weeks of gestation also increased with dose. There was no significant trend with radiation dose in the number of congenital anomalies recorded in offspring of female patients. CONCLUSION: Women who receive flank radiation therapy as part of the treatment for unilateral WT are at increased risk of hypertension complicating pregnancy, fetal malposition, and premature labor. The offspring of these women are at risk for low birth weight and premature (ie, < 37 weeks gestation) birth. These risks must be considered in the obstetrical management of female survivors of WT.

Incidence and outcomes of acute lung injury.

BACKGROUND: Acute lung injury is a critical illness syndrome consisting of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure with bilateral pulmonary infiltrates that are not attributed to left atrial hypertension. Despite recent advances in our understanding of the mechanism and treatment of acute lung injury, its incidence and outcomes in the United States have been unclear. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, population-based, cohort study in 21 hospitals in and around King County, Washington, from April 1999 through July 2000, using a validated screening protocol to identify patients who met the consensus criteria for acute lung injury. RESULTS: A total of 1113 King County residents undergoing mechanical ventilation met the criteria for acute lung injury and were 15 years of age or older. On the basis of this figure, the crude incidence of acute lung injury was 78.9 per 100,000 person-years and the age-adjusted incidence was 86.2 per 100,000 person-years. The in-hospital mortality rate was 38.5 percent. The incidence of acute lung injury increased with age from 16 per 100,000 person-years for those 15 through 19 years of age to 306 per 100,000 person-years for those 75 through 84 years of age. Mortality increased with age from 24 percent for patients 15 through 19 years of age to 60 percent for patients 85 years of age or older (P<0.001). We estimate that each year in the United States there are 190,600 cases of acute lung injury, which are associated with 74,500 deaths and 3.6 million hospital days. CONCLUSIONS: Acute lung injury has a substantial impact on public health, with an incidence in the United States that is considerably higher than previous reports have suggested.

Pregnancy outcomes after abdominal irradiation that included or excluded the pelvis in childhood Wilms tumor survivors: a report from the National Wilms Tumor Study.

PURPOSE: This report describes the pregnancy outcomes among 7 survivors of childhood Wilms tumor, who were treated on one of the National Wilms Tumor Studies (NWTS) with radiation therapy (RT) portals that extended beyond the flank. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Pregnancy outcomes among female survivors of childhood Wilms tumor treated with abdominal irradiation in NWTS 1-4 were analyzed as part of the long-term follow-up study. Medical records and maternal questionnaires were used to gather information on pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 130 patients received abdominal RT and survived to at least 15 years of age. Seven patients (5.4%) had at least 1 recorded pregnancy. The extent of RT fields was ascertained in 126 patients. For 4 patients, the extent of RT fields could not be determined. Twelve girls received RT using portals that included the upper abdomen but not the entire pelvis. Ten pregnancies were recorded in 5 of these patients; 9 resulted in live births, and 1 resulted in a miscarriage. One hundred fourteen girls received RT using portals that included the entire abdomen and pelvis. The abdominal RT dose distribution among these 114 patients was as follows: 9 received 0-10.49 Gy, 22 patients received 10.5-14.99 Gy, and 83 patients received 15+ Gy. Four pregnancies were recorded in 2 of these patients. After 21 Gy to the abdomen and pelvis in 1 patient, all 3 pregnancies resulted in miscarriages and fetal deaths. However, after 10.5 Gy, a normal live birth was reported in the other patient. Pregnancy-related complications were also more common if the RT portals included the pelvis. CONCLUSIONS: Fertility can be preserved in children with Wilms tumor after upper abdominal RT (10-20 Gy) that does not include the entire pelvis. In rare instances, fertility can be preserved after low-dose whole-abdominal RT (10.5 Gy). The indications and dosages for RT currently used have been greatly refined compared to NWTS-1 and NWTS-2. Childhood Wilms tumor survivors should be considered to be at a high risk for infertility and pregnancy-related complications during their reproductive years. Prompt obstetric evaluation is indicated for optimal prenatal, antenatal, and postnatal care.

Pregnancy outcome after treatment for Wilms tumor: a report from the National Wilms Tumor Study Group.

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to determine the effect, if any, of prior treatment with radiation therapy or chemotherapy for Wilms tumor diagnosed during childhood or adolescence on live births, birthweight, and the frequency of congenital malformations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We reviewed pregnancy outcomes among survivors of Wilms tumor treated with or without irradiation to the flank or tumor bed on National Wilms Tumor Studies 1, 2, 3, and 4 using a maternal questionnaire and review of both maternal and offspring medical records. RESULTS: We received reports regarding 427 pregnancies with duration of 20 weeks or longer, including 409 liveborn singletons for whom 309 sets of medical records were reviewed. Malposition of the fetus and early or threatened labor were more frequent among irradiated women. Both were more frequent among women who received higher radiation therapy doses. The offspring of the irradiated female patients were more likely to weigh less than 2,500 g at birth and to be of less than 36 weeks gestation, with both being more frequent after higher doses of radiation. An increased percentage of offspring of irradiated females had one or more congenital malformations. CONCLUSION: Women who receive flank radiation therapy as part of their treatment for Wilms tumor are at increased risk of fetal malposition and premature labor. The offspring of these women are at risk for low birthweight, premature (< 36 weeks gestation) birth, and the occurrence of congenital malformations. These risks must be considered in the obstetrical management of female survivors of Wilms tumor.