Successful H1N1 influenza vaccination of children receiving chemotherapy for solid tumors.

BACKGROUND: The hemato-oncology community has been seriously concerned about the H1N1 pandemic of 2009. Here, we report on the evaluation of the immunogenicity and tolerability of H1N1v monovalent vaccines in young patients with cancer during this pandemic. PROCEDURE: Between December 7, 2009 and February 26, 2010, 20 children receiving chemotherapy for solid tumors at the Institute of Hematology and Pediatric Oncology of Lyon, were immunized by 2 doses of either AS03-adjuvanted or nonadjuvanted vaccine. The level of specific antibodies was assessed at D21 and D42. RESULTS: Seroconversion was observed in 13 of the 20 cases (65%), and 18 of 20 cases (90%) had protective titers after the 2 doses. Exploratory univariate analysis failed to show a significant influence of prevaccination lymphocyte counts on seroresponse rates. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that H1N1v monovalent vaccines were well tolerated by young cancer patients while on chemotherapy and achieved protective immune response in most cases.

Pediatric visceral leishmaniasis in Tartous, Syria.

BACKGROUND: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) type in Syria is Lashmania infantum, a fatal incapacitating disease, which is mostly seen in infants. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Hospital records of 19 children with VL were retrospectively reviewed. The period of the study was from June 2016 to July 2019. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 45.5 months. None was coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus or known to be immunocompromised. Pallor and anemia were observed in all cases, fever in 13 (68.42%), splenomegaly in 18 (94.7%), hepatomegaly in 11 (57.9%), thrombocytopenia in 15 (78.95%), and leukopenia in nine (47.4%). A bone marrow aspirate was obtained and Leishmania amastigotes were detected in all patients. All patients were initially treated with meglumine antimonate; one child did not respond and was treated with lipid formulations of amphotericin B. CONCLUSIONS: Presentation of VL in the pediatric age group is characterized by pallor, fever, splenomegaly, and hepatomegaly. Hematological and biochemical indices are typical with cytopenias. In all cases, microscopic examination provided a positive diagnosis. Despite recent reports on decreased responses to antimonial drugs of patients with Mediterranean VL, meglumine antimonate treatment appears to be still highly effective in Syria.