Adenovirus can be a serious, life-threatening disease, even in previously healthy children.

AIM: Adenovirus infections are exceedingly common in childhood. However, little is known of the clinical characteristics of children admitted with severe infection to the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU). METHODS: Clinical data on children hospitalised with adenovirus infection between January 2005 and March 2020 were collected. We compared data between children hospitalised in the PICU and those who were not in a 1:2 ratio. RESULTS: During the study period, 69 children with adenovirus infection were admitted to the PICU, representing 5% of all hospitalised children with adenovirus. Thirty-four (49%) were previously healthy children. Mortality occurred in 5 patients, and all had an underlying illness. Cidofovir was used in 21 children, including 11 who were previously healthy. No side effects were attributed to the treatment. During 2005-2014, viral co-infection rates were 42% in the PICU group and 11% in the control group (p = 0.002). However, during 2015-2020, when the viral panel became widespread in our institution, the rates of co-infection were similar in the two groups (32% and 34%, p = 1.0). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that adenovirus may present as a serious, life-threatening disease even in previously healthy children.

Safety of Cidofovir Treatment for Suspected or Confirmed Adenovirus Infection in Immunocompetent Pediatric Population.

BACKGROUND: Cidofovir (CDV), a nucleoside phosphonate analogue, exhibits activity against severe cytomegalovirus and adenoviral (ADV) infection. Nevertheless, reports of elevated nephrotoxicity rates limited its use to highly vulnerable cases, mainly immunocompromised children with fulminant infection. Limited data exists regarding CDV safety in immunocompetent children. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate CDV-related toxicity, mainly nephrotoxicity, in immunocompetent children with severe ADV/cytomegalovirus infection. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records for all immunocompetent children under 18 years of age treated with intravenous CDV from January 2005 to December 2019. RESULTS: Among the 23 patients identified, 21 were diagnosed with severe ADV infection. Median age was 15 months. Twenty-one (91%) children were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit. Eighteen patients (78%) received standard CDV protocol (5 mg/kg CDV weekly for 2 weeks), 4 (17%) according to nephroprotective low-dose protocol and 1 patient transitioned. The median duration of CDV treatment was 14 days (range: 1-21 days). All patients received hyperhydration and probenecid with each infusion. Acute kidney injury was recorded in 1 patient (with concurrent septic shock) during CDV treatment. Two children exhibited acute kidney injury before CDV initiation, but renal function normalized during CDV treatment. One patient developed transient neutropenia (600 cells/L), apparently as a result of sepsis. No other major adverse effects were noted. Mortality rate was 3/23 (13%), unrelated to CDV toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that CDV-related nephrotoxicity rate in immunocompetent children may be lower than previously reported, perhaps lower than in the severely immunocompromised population.

High flow nasal cannula therapy in the pediatric home setting.

BACKGROUND: High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) therapy may be better tolerated than traditional noninvasive ventilation (NIV) and is rapidly gaining acceptance in pediatric acute care. In Israel, HFNC is approved for domestic use. We aim to describe its indications, efficacy, parental satisfaction, and safety. METHODS: Retrospective study of children treated with home HFNC therapy in three pediatric centers. Data included demographic parameters, indication of use, weight and days of hospitalization before and after initiation. Safety, tolerability, and parental satisfaction were assessed via standardized telephone questionnaire. RESULTS: Median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of initiating home HFNC in 75 children was 8.3 (2.2, 29.6) months. Indications were obstructive sleep apnea (33; 44%), airway malacia (19; 25%), chronic lung disease (15; 20%), neuromuscular disease (4; 5%), and postextubation support (4; 5%). Weight standard deviation score rose from -2.3 pre-HFNC to -1.7 at 6.7 months post-HFNC initiation, p < 0.001. Hospital admission days during the 2 months pre- versus post-HFNC initiation were 22 (5.5, 60) and 5 (0, 14.7) respectively, p < 0.008. Median (IQR) parental satisfaction score was 5/5 (4, 5). Fifty of 60 (83%) respondents would recommend home HFNC to other families in a similar situation. There were no serious adverse events. CONCLUSION: In our population, domestic HFNC appeared safe and well tolerated for a variety of indications. Its introduction was associated with improved weight gain, fewer hospitalization days and high parental satisfaction. Further work is required to characterize groups of children most likely to benefit from HFNC, as opposed to traditional modes of NIV.

Analysis of microRNAs in familial Mediterranean fever.

OBJECTIVES: Although Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is categorized as autosomal recessive, frequent exceptions to this model exist and therefore we aimed to search epigenetic modifications in this disease. METHODS: Ten M694V homozygous FMF patients (the most severe phenotype) were recruited for this study. Patients with inflammatory flare were excluded. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and microRNA expression profiled using NanoString nCounter technology. These patients were compared to 10 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: Seven hundred nighty-eight mature human miRNAs were probed, 103 of which had expression levels above the negative control probes. Seven miRNAs showed significant differences in expression in samples from FMF patients compared to healthy controls: four miRNAs were upregulated (miR-144-3p, miR-21-5p, miR-4454, and miR-451a), and three were downregulated (miR-107, let-7d-5p, and miR-148b-3p). CONCLUSION: In this pilot study, we identified epigenetic modifications in clinically quiescent FMF patients. More studies are required for exploration of their contribution to FMF pathogenesis and their potential role as clinical biomarkers.