A high neonatal serum eosinophil cationic protein level is a risk factor for atopic symptoms.

AIM: To show whether neonatal eosinophil counts (EC) and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) can be used in assessing the risk of atopy, alone or in combination with family history of atopy (FHa). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A group of 63 newborns was included: 38 with FHa, 25 without FHa. A blood sample was collected on the 4th day of life for EC and ECP evaluation. Clinical follow-up was conducted after 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 36 mo. The chi2 test and the Student's t-test were used to compare dichotomic and continuous variables, respectively. Variables shown to be significant by univariate analysis were evaluated with a multivariate regression model and the relative risks (RR) were estimated. RESULTS: Twenty-six newborns (41%) displayed atopic manifestations during the follow-up. Twenty-one (55%) of 38 newborns with FHa displayed atopic symptoms versus 5/25 (20%) without FHa (p 0.012). Neither EC nor serum ECP levels were significantly different between newborns with FHa and newborns without. ECP levels did not differ between newborns with single heredity and newborns with dual heredity. EC did not differ significantly between newborns who developed atopy and those who did not. Instead, serum ECP levels were significantly higher in newborns who developed atopy (mean 27.9 microU/l vs 16.8 microU/l). Atopic manifestations appeared in 16 (62%) of 26 newborns with ECP > or = 18 microU/l compared with 10 (27%) of 37 with ECP < 18 microU/l (p = 0.006). In the multivariate regression model, with ECP < 18 microU/l and no FHa as reference class, the class 1 (no FHa and ECP > or = 18 microU/l) has a low RR (1.4), class 2 (FHa and ECP < 18 microU/l) an intermediate RR (2.7) and class 3 (FHa and ECP > or = 18 microU/l) a very high RR (16.3). CONCLUSIONS: Neonatal serum ECP levels, in contrast with EC, were significantly higher in newborns who developed atopic manifestations during follow-up. The risk of atopy was about twice as great when ECP was > or = 18 microU/l (and four times as great in multivariate analysis). When serum ECP was combined with FHa, the RR for newborns with FHa and ECP > or = 18 microU/l was 16 times greater than for those without FHa and ECP < 18 microU/l. The identification of newborns at "extremely high atopic risk" (FHa and ECP > or = 18 microU/l) may be expecially useful--in clinical practice--in newborns with only one atopic parent or sibling, for whom it is not universally agreed that dietary and environmental prevention measures should be applied.

[Indwelling central venous catheters after discontinuation of therapy and risk of infection in children with cancer]. / Permanenza del catetere venoso centrale dopo la sospensione della terapia e rischio infettivo in bambini affetti da neoplasia.

In this retrospective study we report the incidence of CVC-related infections in a pediatric oncology population during the off therapy period. We analysed 128 children with oncologic diseases (solid tumors and leukemia), 78 boys and 50 girls, aged 1 to 21 years, who maintained the CVC in situ at least 6 months after the cessation of chemotherapeutic protocols. Seventy-eight patients had a single lumen Broviac-Hickman CVC, 8 patients had a double lumen Broviac-Hickman and 42 a implantable port device. The permanence of CVC in situ after discontinuation of treatment varied between 6 and 24 months. CVC was removed in 5 patients that presented a CVC-related infection, respectively 6, 6, 6, 7 and 10 months from discontinuation of therapy, in 85 patients because was considered no more necessary. 38 patients are still with CVC in situ; in this group 11 patients relapsed more than 6 months after discontinuation of the therapy and were analysed until the time of relapsed. The result of our study show that the incidence of CVC related infections in patients off therapy is very low. Considering the discomfort that frequent blood withdrawals cause to children and the relapse risk, we think that CVC may be maintained in situ more than 6 months after discontinuation of the therapy without risks for the patients.

[Ebstein's anomaly in adults]. / La cardiopatia di Ebstein nell'età adulta.

Eighteen patients (11 women and 7 men) with Ebstein's anomaly recognized in adult age (18-55 years, mean 31.5) were followed in our Department for 3-13 years (mean 7 years). Echocardiographic and cardiac catheterization studies were performed in the majority. Clinical and echocardiographic findings were evaluated in the follow-up period. During the first assessment mild cyanosis was present in 14 cases. Nine patients were in NYHA class I, 6 in NYHA class II, 2 in NYHA class III and 1 in NYHA class IV. Eleven patients complained of palpitations. A Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome was present in 4 cases. At cardiac catheterization, done in 14 patients, a moderate-severe tricuspid regurgitation was found in 7 patients. In 8 cases there was a mild right-to-left shunt at atrial level. During the follow-up period there was 1 sudden death. In all patients with the WPW syndrome, the symptoms were well controlled by medical treatment. Systemic embolism was a major complication in 3 patients (all with patent foramen ovale and right-to-left shunt). During the follow-up period surgery was performed in 3 patients for a worsening of the tricuspid incompetence. Good early and late results were obtained in all 3 patients. The clinical conditions remained stable in the other 14 cases. Seven women out of 11 had 1 or more pregnancies (all together 14 pregnancies). In conclusion, in our experience Ebstein's anomaly diagnosed in adult life is a benign and stable disease, particularly if the patient is asymptomatic; surgical correction must be performed if the patient becomes symptomatic either because of paradoxical embolism or because of worsening of the tricuspid regurgitation.