[Levomepromazine as adjuvant sedation in a pediatric intensive care unit]. / Levomepromazina como coadyuvante de sedación en la unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátricos.

INTRODUCTION: Sedation of patients in pediatric ICU extubated and in weaning of mechanic ventilation is diffcult under regular sedation, because of the tolerance and/or abstinence generated by its sustained use. The objective of this study is to describe the use of Levomepromazine as sedative coadjuvant in these patients. POPULATION AND METHODS: Observational and longitudinal study in intensive care from Juan P. Garrahan Pediatric Hospital. Patients older than 2 years were included, extubated and in weaning of mechanic ventilation with requirements of additional sedation. The level of basal sedation and post-intervention (levomepromazine 0.5 mg/kg every 8 hours) were evaluated with Ramsay and Khalil scales. Doses of regular sedatives were compared before and after the indication. It was considered positive an increase of 1 in the scales, or a decrease of 20% in the regular sedatives doses. RESULTS: 36 patients, medium age of 8,5 years, average doses of levomepromazine 0.38 mg/kg. 97% showed positive result. The regular sedative doses were reduced more than 20% after the intervention. No adverse effects or deceased were registered.

Pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction: A pediatric clinical case report. / Disfunciones del metabolismo del surfactante pulmonar: caso clínico pediátrico.

Interstitial lung diseases are rare in pediatrics. They include dysfunctions in the metabolism of pulmonary surfactant, an amphipathic molecule that reduces surface tension and prevents alveolar collapse. Here we describe the case of a 6-month-old infant controlled for low weight, who presented with acute respiratory distress and cyanosis; his chest X-ray showed interstitial infiltrate, pneumomediastinum, and bilateral pneumothorax. During history-taking, it was noted that his mother had a history of hospitalization at 1 year old with unknown diagnosis, requiring prolonged oxygen therapy; she now shows signs of chronic hypoxia. The patient was hospitalized and required oxygen therapy. Ancillary tests were done to look for the etiology of the condition, with no positive results. A chest computed tomography showed groundglass opacities, thickening of the septal interstitium, and areas of air trapping; based on the results of a lung biopsy and a genetic study, pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction was diagnosed.

Las enfermedades pulmonares intersticiales son patologías poco frecuentes en pediatría. Dentro de ellas, se incluyen las disfunciones del metabolismo del surfactante pulmonar, molécula anfipática cuya función es disminuir la tensión superficial y evitar el colapso alveolar. Se presenta el caso de un lactante de 6 meses, en seguimiento por bajo peso, que presentó dificultad respiratoria aguda y cianosis; la radiografía de tórax evidenció infiltrado intersticial, neumomediastino neumotórax bilateral. Al interrogatorio, surgió antecedente materno de internación al año de vida, con requerimiento de oxigenoterapia prolongada y diagnóstico desconocido; presenta signos de hipoxia crónica. El paciente cursó internación con requerimiento de oxigenoterapia. Se realizaron estudios complementarios en búsqueda de etiología, sin resultados positivos. La tomografía de tórax evidenció opacidades en vidrio esmerilado, engrosamiento del intersticio septal y áreas de atrapamiento aéreo; con resultado de biopsia pulmonar y estudio genético se llegó al diagnóstico de disfunción del metabolismo del surfactante pulmonar.

Clinical implications of hepatitis A virus ribonucleic acid detection and genotyping in acute liver failure in children in Argentina.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the detection of hepatitis A virus ribonucleic acid in patients with acute liver failure and to assess if the results have any clinical implications for the evolution of acute liver failure in children. Hepatitis A infection, a vaccine-preventable disease, is an important cause of acute liver failure in children in Argentina. Universal vaccination in 1-yr-old children was implemented in June 2005. DESIGN: Observational study in which patients were divided into Group 1 consisting of positive hepatitis A virus ribonucleic acid and Group 2 consisting of negative hepatitis A virus ribonucleic acid. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care unit in National Pediatric Hospital "Dr. J. P. Garrahan," Buenos Aires, Argentina. PATIENTS: Thirty-three patients with the diagnosis of acute liver failure secondary to hepatitis A virus infection and admitted to the Garrahan Pediatric Hospital between September 2003 and September 2005 were enrolled in the study. Twenty of these children were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Samples for total ribonucleic acid detection and genotyping were obtained from serum and/or stools on admission. We found positive hepatitis A virus ribonucleic acid in 13 patients and negative hepatitis A virus ribonucleic acid in 20 patients. The following clinical variables were evaluated: time of evolution, hospital stay, admission to the pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric intensive care unit stay, time on mechanical ventilation, criteria for orthotopic liver transplantation, and mortality. Characterization of the isolates did not reveal differences related to genotype; all cases were IA. No statistical significance was found as to the variables. However, positive hepatitis A virus ribonucleic acid showed lower percentages of pediatric intensive care unit admissions, criteria for orthotopic liver transplantation, number of orthotopic liver transplantation, and mortality than the group of patients with negative hepatitis A virus ribonucleic acid. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatitis A virus genotyping studies did not show any particularities, all cases were IA and, thus, apparent associations between genotype and the clinical presentation of acute liver failure could not be found.

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder after pediatric liver transplantation: characteristics and outcome.

UNLABELLED: Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder (PTLD) is a life threatening complication in organ transplant recipients. Risk factors include primary Epstein-Barr virus infection, intensity of immunosupression and cytomegalovirus infection. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the incidence, clinical presentation, risk factors, histopathologic appearance and outcome of pediatric liver recipients with PTLD at our institution. METHOD: Retrospective, descriptive and observational analysis. Between November 1992 and December 2005, 383 liver transplants were performed. The diagnosis of PTLD was based on clinical history and physical examination and confirmed by histologic appearance and immunohistologic staining. Knowles' classification was used for histopathologic diagnosis. RESULTS: The incidence of PTLD was 5.7% (n: 22p). The average onset after tansplantation (OLT) was 24.9 months. Clinical manifestations were malaise, anorexia, fever of more than 3 days, peripheral adenopathy, tonsillar hypertrophy, abdominal mass, hepatosplenomegaly, snoring, interstitial pulmonary infiltrate, G.T.-tract bleeding, rash, submaxilar mass. Histopathologic diagnosis were Plasmocytic Hyperplasia (n: 10), Polymorphic Lymphoproliferative Disorder (n: 8), Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (n: 4). Mortality was 18%. CONCLUSION: The clinical presentations were protean and not specific. A high index of suspicion is important for early diagnosis as it correlates with more benign lesions and more favorable outcume. The lower mortality rate in our series is concordant with that reported in more recent articles.

Disfunciones del metabolismo del surfactante pulmonar: caso clínico pediátrico / Pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction: A pediatric clinical case report

Las enfermedades pulmonares intersticiales son patologías poco frecuentes en pediatría. Dentro de ellas, se incluyen las disfunciones del metabolismo del surfactante pulmonar, molécula anfipática cuya función es disminuir la tensión superficial y evitar el colapso alveolar. Se presenta el caso de un lactante de 6 meses, en seguimiento por bajo peso, que presentó dificultad respiratoria aguda y cianosis; la radiografía de tórax evidenció infiltrado intersticial, neumomediastino y neumotórax bilateral. Al interrogatorio, surgió antecedente materno de internación al año de vida, con requerimiento de oxigenoterapia prolongada y diagnóstico desconocido; presenta signos de hipoxia crónica. El paciente cursó internación con requerimiento de oxigenoterapia. Se realizaron estudios complementarios en búsqueda de etiología, sin resultados positivos. La tomografía de tórax evidenció opacidades en vidrio esmerilado, engrosamiento del intersticio septal y áreas de atrapamiento aéreo; con resultado de biopsia pulmonar y estudio genético se llegó al diagnóstico de disfunción del metabolismo del surfactante pulmonar.

Interstitial lung diseases are rare in pediatrics. They include dysfunctions in the metabolism of pulmonary surfactant, an amphipathic molecule that reduces surface tension and prevents alveolar collapse. Here we describe the case of a 6-month-old infant controlled for low weight, who presented with acute respiratory distress and cyanosis; his chest X-ray showed interstitial infiltrate, pneumomediastinum, and bilateral pneumothorax. During history-taking, it was noted that his mother had a history of hospitalization at 1 year old with unknown diagnosis, requiring prolonged oxygen therapy; she now shows signs of chronic hypoxia. The patient was hospitalized and required oxygen therapy. Ancillary tests were done to look for the etiology of the condition, with no positive results. A chest computed tomography showed groundglass opacities, thickening of the septal interstitium, and areas of air trapping; based on the results of a lung biopsy and a genetic study, pulmonary surfactant metabolism dysfunction was diagnosed.

Acute arterial embolism as the clinical presentation of a disseminated hydatidosis: case report. / Embolismo arterial agudo como forma de presentación clínica inicial de una hidatidosis diseminada: reporte de un caso.

Hydatidosis is a parasitic infection caused by the Echinococcus granulosus larvae, transmitted by the ingestion of infected food, characterized by the formation of cysts in vital organs. In Argentina, the disease is spread throughout the territory, constituting an important public health issue. The disease usually affects the liver and lungs. The affection of other organs is rare, and even more uncommon the affection of the heart. We present the case of a disseminated hydatidosis in a pediatric patient, whose initial clinical manifestation was an acute arterial embolism of the right limb caused by the rupture of a hydatidic cardiac cyst.

La hidatidosis es una zoonosis producida por el parásito Echinococcus granulosus. En el ciclo zoonótico del parásito, el hombre es un huésped intermediario y sufre la enfermedad tras la ingesta de alimentos y agua contaminados por la materia fecal de animales infectados. En Argentina, la enfermedad constituye un problema importante de salud pública. Suele manifestarse con compromiso hepático y pulmonar. La afectación de otros órganos, que incluyen el corazón, es infrecuente. Se presenta un caso de embolia arterial aguda como manifestación clínica inicial de una hidatidosis diseminada en un paciente pediátrico, a partir de la ruptura de un quiste hidatídico cardíaco.

[Microbiological features and risk factors for acquiring multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia in pediatric patients. Case-control study]. / Factores de riesgo para la adquisición y características microbiológicas de las bacteriemias por Acinetobacter baumannii multi-resistente en pediatría: Estudio de casos y controles.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MAB) is an important nosocomial pathogen. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the risk factors for acquiring MAB, and the clinical and microbiological characteristics of MAB bacteremia (MABB) in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Control-case study 2005-2008. Demographic and clinical data from all MABB and from non-multiresistant gram-negative bacteremias were recorded. Identification at species level, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, time-kill studies and clonally relationships were performed. Stata 8.0 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: A total of 50 MABB and 100 controls were included. Ninety four percent of patients acquired MAB in ICU and the 88% had underlying diseases. All patients had invasive procedures previous to MABB. The median of hospitalization stay previous to MABB was different in cases than in controls (16 vs 7 days, p < 0.001). Five clones were detected among the MABB. Time-killing curves showed bactericidal activity of ampicillin/sulbactam plus gentamicin and polymixin B. Three patients with MAB died. In a multivariate analysis final predictors of MABB were: previous use of broad-spectrum antibiotics [OR: 7,0; IC 95% 1,93-25,0; p: 0,003] and mechanical ventilation [OR: 4,19; IC 95% 1,66-10,0; p: 0,002]. CONCLUSIONS: MABB were detected in patients with underlying conditions, invasive procedures and prolonged hospitalization. Predictors of MABB were mechanical previous use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and mechanical ventilation.

Embolismo arterial agudo como forma de presentación clínica inicial de una hidatidosis diseminada: reporte de un caso / Acute arterial embolism as the clinical presentation of a disseminated hydatidosis: case report

La hidatidosis es una zoonosis producida por el parásito Echinococcus granulosus. En el ciclo zoonótico del parásito, el hombre es un huésped intermediario y sufre la enfermedad tras la ingesta de alimentos y agua contaminados por la materia fecal de animales infectados. En Argentina, la enfermedad constituye un problema importante de salud pública. Suele manifestarse con compromiso hepático y pulmonar. La afectación de otros órganos, que incluyen el corazón, es infrecuente.

Hydatidosis is a parasitic infection caused by the Echinococcus granulosus larvae, transmitted by the ingestion of infected food, characterized by the formation of cysts in vital organs. In Argentina, the disease is spread throughout the territory, constituting an important public health issue. The disease usually affects the liver and lungs. The affection of other organs is rare, and even more uncommon the affection of the heart. We present the case of a disseminated hydatidosis in a pediatric patient, whose initial clinical manifestation was an acute arterial embolism of the right limb caused by the rupture of a hydatidic cardiac cyst.

A polymorphism in TIM1 is associated with susceptibility to severe hepatitis A virus infection in humans.

During infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV), most patients develop mild or asymptomatic disease. However, a small number of patients develop serious, life-threatening hepatitis. We investigated this variability in disease severity by examining 30 Argentinean patients with HAV-induced acute liver failure in a case-control, cross-sectional, observational study. We found that HAV-induced severe liver disease was associated with a 6-amino-acid insertion in TIM1/HAVCR1 (157insMTTTVP), the gene encoding the HAV receptor. This polymorphism was previously shown to be associated with protection against asthma and allergic diseases and with HIV progression. In binding assays, the TIM-1 protein containing the 157insMTTTVP insertion polymorphism bound HAV more efficiently. When expressed by human natural killer T (NKT) cells, this long form resulted in greater NKT cell cytolytic activity against HAV-infected liver cells, compared with the shorter TIM-1 protein without the polymorphism. To our knowledge, the 157insMTTTVP polymorphism in TIM1 is the first genetic susceptibility factor shown to predispose to HAV-induced acute liver failure. Furthermore, these results suggest that HAV infection has driven the natural selection of shorter forms of the TIM-1 protein, which binds HAV less efficiently, thereby protecting against severe HAV-induced disease, but which may predispose toward inflammation associated with asthma and allergy.

Factores de riesgo para la adquisición y características microbiológicas de las bacteriemias por Acinetobacter baumannii multi-resistente en pediatría: Estudio de casos y controles / Microbiological features and risk factors for acquiring multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia in pediatric patients: Case-control study

Background: Multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MAB) is an important nosocomial pathogen. Objectives: To analyze the risk factors for acquiring MAB, and the clinical and microbiological characteristics of MAB bacteremia (MABB) in children. Materials and Methods: Control-case study 2005-2008. Demographic and clinical data from all MABB and from non-multiresistant gram-negative bacteremias were recorded. Identification at species level, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, time-kill studies and clonally relationships were performed. Stata 8.0 was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 50 MABB and 100 controls were included. Ninety four percent of patients acquired MAB in ICU and the 88% had underlying diseases. All patients had invasive procedures previous to MABB. The median of hospitalization stay previous to MABB was different in cases than in controls (16 vs 7 days, p < 0.001). Five clones were detected among the MABB. Time-killing curves showed bactericidal activity of ampicillin/sulbactam plus gentamicin and polymixin B. Three patients with MAB died. In a multivariate analysis final predictors of MABB were: previous use of broad-spectrum antibiotics [OR: 7,0; IC 95% 1,93-25,0; p: 0,003] and mechanical ventilation [OR: 4,19; IC 95% 1,66-10,0; p: 0,002]. Conclusions: MABB were detected in patients with underlying conditions, invasive procedures and prolonged hospitalization. Predictors of MABB were mechanical previous use of broad-spectrum antibiotics and mechanical ventilation.

Introducción: Acinetobacter baumannii multi-resistente (ABM) es un patógeno intrahospitalario de importancia. Objetivos: Analizar factores de riesgo de adquisición y características clínicas y microbiológicas de las bacteriemias por ABM (BABM) en pediatría. Métodos: Estudio de casos y controles período 2005-2008. Se incluyeron variables demográficas y clínicas de pacientes con BABM y por otros bacilos gramnegativos no ABM. Se realizaron pruebas para identificación de especie, susceptibilidad antimicrobiana y detección feno-genotípica de mecanismos de resistencia, sinergia y clonalidad. Análisis estadístico: Stata 8.0. Resultados: Se incluyeron 50 BABM y 100 controles. El 94% de los pacientes adquirieron la BABM en UCI y 88% tenía patologías subyacentes. La mediana de días de internación previa a la bacteriemia fue mayor en los casos (16 vs 7 días, p < 0,001). Se detectaron cinco clones de ABM. Se encontró efecto bactericida in vitro con polimixina B y con ampicilina/sulbactam+gentamicina. Tres casos fallecieron. Análisis multivariado: predictores finales de BABM fueron: antimicrobiano previo de amplio espectro [OR: 7,0; IC 95% 1,93-25,0; p: 0,003] y asistencia respiratoria mecánica (ARM) [OR: 4,19; IC 95% 1,66-10,0; p: 0,002]. Conclusiones: Las BABM fueron detectadas en pacientes con enfermedad subyacente, con procedimientos invasores previos e internación prolongada. Fueron predictores de BABM el tratamiento antimicrobiano de amplio espectro y ARM previa.