Fecal Calprotectin as a Biomarker of Food Allergy and Disease Severity in Children with Atopic Dermatitis without Gastrointestinal Symptoms.

Fecal calprotectin (FCP) is a biomarker of intestinal inflammation and has recently been proposed as a diagnostic biomarker of food allergy (FA) in children. The aim of this study was to compare FCP level in infants and children under 4 years old with 1) atopic dermatitis (AD) with food allergy (FA) and 2) children with AD and without FA with the results in healthy controls. In total, 46 infants and children (mean age 14 months ± 12) diagnosed with AD were divided into two groups: G1, children with atopic AD with FA (n=28) and G2, children with AD without FA (n=18). The control group (G3) was made up of healthy children of the same age (n=18). The median FCP was significantly higher in G1 compared with G2 (G1: median 154, IQR 416 µg/g vs G2: median 41.3, IQR 59 µg/g; P=0.0096). The median FCP in children with AD and FA was significantly higher before elimination diet in comparison with FCP after 3 months of elimination diet (median 154, IQR 416 µg/g vs median 35, IQR 23 µg/g; P=0.0039). The level of FCP was significantly positively correlated with the SCORAD score (r=0.5544, P=0.0022). Our study showed a significant difference in level of FCP in patients with AD without FA compared with patients with AD and FA. We also found a positive correlation of FCP with SCORAD score, a biomarker of AD severity. New studies are needed to investigate the role of FCP as a biomarker of FA in children with AD.

Nutritional status as a predictor of adverse events and survival in pediatric autologous stem cell transplant.

Nutritional status is recognized as an independent and modifiable risk factor of outcome in stem cell transplant. Our research aim was to evaluate the impact of body mass index (BMI) and serum albumin on the prevalence of adverse events and survival in autologous transplant in children. A retrospective study was conducted of autologous transplants performed between 2006 and 2017 in the Children's Hospital Zagreb, Croatia. Nutritional status was assessed at the times of diagnosis, procedure, and discharge using BMI (underweight, normal, obese) and serum albumin (grades 1-4). Adverse events (fever, gastrointestinal toxicity, electrolyte disturbances, dysglycemia) and outcome (3-year, relapse, mortality) were documented. Seventy-seven children (54.5% males, mean age 7.9 years) underwent autologous transplant, mostly for neuroblastoma. In terms of BMI and albumin, which showed significant positive correlation at diagnosis (p = 0.026) and transplant (p = 0.016), most participants were well nourished. Average post-transplant weight loss was 4%. Major toxicities were severe mucositis (72.7%) and hypophosphatemia (31.2%). Relapse and mortality rates were 35.1% and 42.9%, respectively. Hypokalemia (p = 0.041) and hypomagnesemia (p = 0.044) were more prevalent in the underweight group, while obese children experienced significantly less severe mucositis (p = 0.016) and hypophosphatemia (p = 0.038). There was no significant difference regarding outcome among children of different nutritional status, although undernourished children tended to have lower relapse and mortality rates. In conclusion, underweight children are significantly more prone to severe electrolyte disorders and mucositis, and although statistical significance was not reached, are more likely to survive.

Contact Sensitivity in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common chronic and relapsing, non-contagious inflammatory skin disorder, characterized by skin barrier impairment and baseline immune irregularities. The literature on the relationship between AD and cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity is inconclusive. There is an ongoing debate whether contact sensibility (CS) is found more or less often among patients with AD. Aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of contact sensitivity (positive patch test reactions) in patients with and without AD. We patch tested a total of 2143 patients (563 men and 1580 women). There were 226 patients with history of AD; 61 (27%) men and 165 (73%) women. The patient group without AD consisted of 1917 patients, 502 (26%) male and 1415 (74%) female patients, who were referred to our Department with clinical suspicion of allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). A patch test was performed with the baseline series, and readings were performed on days D2, D3, and D7. Among patients with AD, 109 (48.2%) had a positive patch test reaction to at least one allergen, whereas 1094 (57.1%) patients with no history of AD had a positive patch test reaction. The most common positive allergens in patients with AD were nickel (II) sulfate (13.3%), thimerosal (12.4%), cobalt (II) chloride (11.5%), methylisothiazolinone (MI) (8.4%), fragrance mix I (6.6%), potassium dichromate (5.3%), methyldibromo glutaronitrile (4.0%), and carba mix (4.0%). The results of our study agree with previous findings that there is no significant difference in prevalence of CS between the atopic and nonatopic populations.

Contact allergy: an update.

Contact allergies are common cause of eczema in all age groups and are one of the most common causes of occupational disability. Contact dermatitis (CD) can be divided into irritant and allergic contact dermatitis. Distinguishing between irritant and allergic triggers of CD by clinical and histologic examinations can be challenging. The approach to patients with CD should consist of a detailed (work and leisure) history, skin examination, patch tests with allergens based on history, physical examination, education on materials that contain the allergen and adequate therapy and prevention.

Ataxia-Telangiectasia Presenting as Cerebral Palsy and Recurrent Wheezing: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is an autosomal recessive disease that consists of progressive cerebellar ataxia, variable immunodeficiency, sinopulmonary infections, oculocutaneous telangiectasia, radiosensitivity, early aging, and increased incidence of cancer. CASE REPORT: We report the case of an 8-year-old boy affected by A-T. At 12 months of age, he had a waddling gait, with his upper body leaning forward. Dystonic/dyskinetic cerebral palsy was diagnosed at the age of 3 years. At age 6 he was diagnosed with asthma based on recurrent wheezing episodes. A-T was confirmed at the age 8 years on the basis of clinical signs and laboratory findings (increased alpha fetoprotein--AFP, immunodeficiency, undetectable ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) protein on immunoblotting, and identification A-T mutation, 5932G>T). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and immunological presentation of ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is very heterogeneous and diagnostically challenging, especially at an early age, leading to frequent misdiagnosis.

Incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus in 0 to 14-yr-old children in Croatia--2004 to 2012 study.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) among children and adolescents increased during the last 50 yr. The T1DM incidence in Croatia was 8.87/100.000/yr over 1995-2003, with an annual increase of 9%, which placed Croatia among countries with moderate risk for T1DM. AIM: To investigate incidence rates and trends of T1DM from 2004 to 2012 in 0 to 14-yr-old Croatian children, and to compare the results with previous studies in Croatia and other European countries. METHODS: T1DM crude incidence rates are estimated for the entire group and three subgroups: 0-4, 5-9, and 10-14 yr. Standardized incidence is calculated using the method of direct standardization according to World Health Organization (WHO) standard world population. The incidence rates by gender, age groups, seasonality, and calendar year, and their interactions were analyzed using Poisson regression model. RESULTS: A total of 1066 cases were ascertained over 2004-2012. The standardized incidence was 17.23/100.000/yr (95% CI: 16.19-18.26), with no significant differences in incidence rates or trends between boys and girls. Statistically significant annual increase of 5.87% (p < 0.001) was found for the whole group, and for the subgroups 5-9 yr (6.82%; p < 0.001) and 10-14 yr (7.47%; p < 0.001). In the youngest subgroup (0-4 yr), annual increase was lower (2.43%; p = 0338) and not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The incidence of childhood T1DM is increasing in Croatia, thus placing Croatia among countries with high risk for T1DM. The annual increment of 5.87% is considerably lower than 9.0% reported earlier, but still higher than the European average (3.9%). The increase in incidence ceased in youngest children.