Predictive factors of response to IVIG in pediatric immune thrombocytopenic purpura.

BACKGROUND: Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is commonly treated with i.v. immunoglobulin (IVIG). METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated whether pretreatment clinical and laboratory finding could predict the short- and long-term response to IVIG. RESULTS: Short-term response was estimated by platelet count 2 weeks after IVIG, and long-term response was assessed on thrombocytopenia-free survival (TFS). TFS was defined as the probability of survival without treatment failure after initial IVIG, such as relapse, requirement for additional therapeutic interventions, or progressing to chronic ITP. Seventy-six patients with newly diagnosed ITP who were initially treated with IVIG were evaluated. Fifty-three patients (69.7%) were determined as responders at 2 weeks after IVIG. On multivariate analysis, age ≥23 months (P = 0.020) and platelet count <9.0 × 109 /L (P = 0.018) were considered to be unfavorable factors for short-term response. Cumulative proportion of long-term (1 year) good prognosis was estimated at 53.0% (95%CI: 40.8-65.2). On multivariate analysis of unfavorable factors for long-term response, age ≥23 months (P = 0.020) was the only significant factor. CONCLUSIONS: For new-onset ITP in patients aged >2 years, corticosteroid therapy in addition to IVIG may be considered as the initial treatment.

[A case of primary mediastinal (Thymic) B-cell lymphoma successfully treated with the DA-EPOCH-R Regimen].

Primary mediastinal (thymic) B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) is resistant to treatment when compared with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Moreover, the optimal first -line treatment of PMBL has not yet been determined. Herein, we report a case of PMBL that was successfully treated with the dose adjusted (DA) etoposide, prednisolone, vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide with rituximab (EPOCH-R) regimen. A-29-year-old woman was referred to our hospital with an anterior mediastinal tumor. Eight months before admission, she had visited a clinic for pain in the chest and back, but no abnormalities were found. Subsequently, her chest pain got worse, and she went to another clinic, where she was detected with an anterior mediastinal tumor and was referred to our hospital. Tumor biopsy with a thoracoscope was performed, and a diagnosis of PMBL was made. The tumor diameter was 90 mm, with invasion to the lungs and superior vena cava. The tumor had a clinical stage of IEA, and the International Prognostic Index (IPI) was low risk. She was treated with the DA-EPOCH-R regimen for 8 courses, and a complete response was achieved. A recent retrospective study of DA-EPOCH-R treatment without radiotherapy for PMBL was recently published. It showed that the event-free survival rate was 93% and the overall survival rate was 97% during a median 5-year follow-up. Thus, DA-EPOCH-R may be a potential standard treatment for PMBL.

Clinical Characteristics of Pediatric Parainfluenza Virus Infections: A Comparative Analysis of Parainfluenza Virus Serotypes 1-4 From April 2021 to October 2023 in Hokkaido, Japan.

BACKGROUND: Parainfluenza virus (PIV) is widely known as a causative virus of acute respiratory tract infections in children, and 4 serotypes (PIV-1-PIV-4) have been identified. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the clinical characteristics of the PIV serotypes in pediatric PIV infections in Japan. METHODS: Between April 2021 and October 2023, 8821 children aged <16 years who presented with respiratory symptoms underwent multiplex polymerase chain reaction analyses at the Department of Pediatrics, NTT Medical Center Sapporo. All 1490 cases in which PIV was detected were analyzed for their clinical characteristics by PIV serotypes. RESULTS: Of the 1490 cases, 608 were positive for a single PIV serotype: 91 (13.5%) for PIV-1, 54 (4.8%) for PIV-2, 361 (62.1%) for PIV-3 and 102 (19.6%) for PIV-4. The median ages were 3.5 years for PIV-1, 5.4 years for PIV-2, 1.9 years for PIV-3 and 2.2 years for PIV-4, with a significantly older age for PIV-2. Compared with the other serotypes, croup was significantly more common in PIV-1 and lower respiratory tract infection was significantly more common in PIV-4. Of the 608 cases with a single PIV serotype, 114 were hospitalized. The proportion of hospitalized patients was higher for PIV-4 than for the other PIV serotypes, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Lower respiratory tract infection was more frequent in PIV-4 than in the other PIV serotypes, and PIV-4 infection may increase the risk of hospitalization.