Intravenous administration of anakinra in children with macrophage activation syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Subcutaneous anakinra is an interleukin-1 inhibitor used to treat juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Recent reports suggest anakinra can be a valuable addition to the treatment of COVID-19 associated cytokine storm syndrome and the related multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in children. Herein, we describe our experience with intravenously administered anakinra. FINDINGS: 19 Patients (9 male) received intravenous (IV) anakinra for treatment of macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic JIA (SJIA) or secondary hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (sHLH). In most cases the general trend of the fibrinogen, ferritin, AST, and platelet count (Ravelli criteria) improved after initiation of IV anakinra. There were no reports of anaphylaxis or reactions associated with administration of IV anakinra. CONCLUSION: Intravenous administration of anakinra is an important therapeutic option for critically ill patients with MAS/HLH. It is also beneficial for those with thrombocytopenia, subcutaneous edema, neurological dysfunction, or very young, hospitalized patients who need multiple painful subcutaneous injections.

Effectiveness of gabapentin as a postoperative analgesic in children undergoing appendectomy.

PURPOSE: Though gabapentin is increasingly used as a perioperative analgesic, data regarding effectiveness in children are limited. The purpose of this study was to evaluate gabapentin as a postoperative analgesic in children undergoing appendectomy. METHODS: A 12-month retrospective review of children undergoing appendectomy was performed at a two-hospital children's institution. Patients receiving gabapentin (GP) were matched (1:2) with patients who did not receive gabapentin (NG) based on age, sex and appendicitis severity. Outcome measures included postoperative opioid use, pain scores, and revisits/readmissions. RESULTS: We matched 29 (33.3%) GP patients with 58 (66.6%) NG patients (n = 87). The GP group required significantly less postoperative opioids than the NG group (0.034 mg morphine equivalents/kg (ME/kg) vs. 0.106 ME/kg, p < 0.01). Groups had similar lengths of time from operation to pain scores ≤ 3 (GP 12.21 vs. NG 17.01 h, p = 0.23). GP and NG had similar rates of revisit to the emergency department (13.8 vs. 10.3%, p = 0.73), readmission (6.9 vs. 1.7%, p = 0.26), and revisits secondary to surgical pain (3.4 vs. 3.4%, p = 1.00). CONCLUSION: In this single-center, retrospective cohort study, gabapentin is associated with a reduction in total postoperative opioid use in children with appendicitis. While promising, further prospective validation of clinical effectiveness is needed.

Respiratory Decompensation and Immunization of Preterm Infants.

BACKGROUND: Concern for respiratory decompensation after immunization in premature infants, particularly those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), may lead to delayed and altered immunization schedules. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of premature infants at <32 weeks' gestational age cared for in a tertiary level 4 NICU and immunized during their hospital stay were evaluated for respiratory decompensation within 72 hours of immunization. Respiratory measurements including change in respiratory support, mean fraction of inspired oxygen, and apnea, bradycardia, and desaturation events were compared between those infants with BPD and those without. The primary outcome was the difference in respiratory decompensation defined as a composite of increased respiratory support or increased fraction of inspired oxygen ≥10% within 72 hours of immunization. RESULTS: Of 403 infants admitted to the NICU and immunized, 240 met the study criteria. Of those infants, 172 had a diagnosis of BPD. There was no difference in the primary outcome of respiratory decompensation after immunization between groups (P = .65). There was also no significant difference in apnea, bradycardia, and desaturation events between groups (P = .51). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, respiratory decompensation requiring clinical intervention after immunization of preterm infants both with and without BPD was uncommon and not significantly different between groups. Consideration for immunization of this vulnerable population should not be delayed out of concern for clinical deterioration.