Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis in a PICU of a Developing Economy: Clinical Profile, Intensive Care Needs, Outcome, and Predictors of Mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical profile, intensive care needs, outcome, and predictors of mortality in critically ill children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: PICU of a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. PATIENTS: Children 2 months to 12 years old with the diagnosis of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis admitted to PICU from January 2012 to April 2019 (7» yr). INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Sixty-two children with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (60 secondary and two primary) were enrolled. The median (interquartile range) age of the study group was 82 months (50.5-124 mo). The median (interquartile range) Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score was 16 (10-23). Majority of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis was infection-associated (n = 51; 82.3%). Among these, scrub typhus accounted for 29% of cases (n = 18), dengue 17.7% (n = 11), bacterial sepsis 14.5% (n = 9), enteric fever 6.5% (n = 4), and other infections 14.5% (n = 9). Systemic-onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis accounted for 9.7% of cases (n = 6) and malignancy for 4.8% patients (n = 3). Majority of cases were treated with steroids (77.4%) and IV immunoglobulin (25.8%). Various complications noted were shock (71%), acute kidney injury (66.1%), acute respiratory distress syndrome (41.9%), disseminated intravascular coagulation (54.8%), CNS dysfunction (54.8%), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (82.3%), and healthcare-associated infections (14.5%). Intensive care needs for primary illness and/or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis included mechanical ventilation (74.2%); packed RBC (72.3%), fresh frozen plasma (40.3%), and platelet (48.4%) transfusion; vasoactive drugs (71%); and renal replacement therapy (24.2%). The median duration of PICU stay was 5 days (2.5-9.5 d) and mortality was 59.7% (n = 37). On univariate analysis, nonsurvivors had higher Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score; higher proportion of shock, acute kidney injury, acute respiratory distress syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome; the need for blood and blood components, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drugs, and renal replacement therapy; higher Vasoactive-Inotropic Score; and prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation compared with survivors. CONCLUSIONS: Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in PICU is commonly secondary to tropical infections and associated with high mortality. Higher severity of illness; shock and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome; need for blood and blood products, mechanical ventilation, vasoactive drugs, and renal replacement therapy; higher Vasoactive-Inotropic Score; and prolonged mechanical ventilation predicted death. Treatment of underlying infection and a less intense immunosuppressive therapy (steroids ± IV immunoglobulin) are suggested options. A high index of suspicion for complicating hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is required in children with prolonged fever, cytopenias, organomegaly, and organ dysfunction not responding to conventional treatment.

Post-neonatal Tetanus in a PICU of a Developing Economy: Intensive Care Needs, Outcome and Predictors of Mortality.

Objectives: To evaluate pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) needs, outcome and predictors of mortality in post-neonatal tetanus. Materials and methods: Review of 30 consecutive post-neonatal tetanus cases aged 1 months to 12 years admitted to a PICU in north India over a period of 10 years (January 2006 to December 2015). Results: Chronic suppurative otitis media was the commonest portal of entry. All received tetanus toxoid, human tetanus immunoglobulin (HTIG) and appropriate antibiotics; 7 (23.3%) received intrathecal HTIG. Common complications were respiratory failure, rhabdomyolysis, autonomic dysfunction, acute kidney injury and healthcare-associated infections. PICU needs were as follows: ventilation; benzodiazepine, morphine and magnesium sulfate infusion; neuromuscular blockers, inotropes, tracheostomy and renal replacement therapy. Mortality rate was 40%; severity Grade IIIb, autonomic dysfunction, use of vasoactive drugs and those who did not receive intrathecal HTIG were significantly associated with mortality. Conclusion: Post-neonatal tetanus is associated with high mortality, and PICU needs include management of spasms, autonomic dysfunction and complications and cardiorespiratory support.