Age-Related Prevalence of Open Ductus Arteriosus in Full-Term Newborns.

BACKGROUND: The ductus arteriosus is part of the fetal circulation. Normally, the vessel closes during the cardiac transition. Delayed closure is associated with complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the age-related prevalence of open ductus arteriosus in full-term neonates. METHODS: Echocardiograms were collected in the population study, the Copenhagen Baby Heart Study. The present study included full-term neonates with an echocardiogram performed within 28 days after birth. All echocardiograms were reviewed to assess ductus arteriosus patency. RESULTS: A total of 21,649 neonates were included. In neonates examined at day zero and day seven, an open ductus arteriosus was found in 36% and 0.6%, respectively. Beyond day seven, the prevalence remained stable at 0.6%. CONCLUSION: More than one-third of full-term neonates had an open ductus arteriosus on the first day of life, declining rapidly within the first week and stabilizing below 1% after day seven.

Asparaginase-associated pancreatitis is not predicted by hypertriglyceridemia or pancreatic enzyme levels in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

BACKGROUND: l-Asparaginase is an important drug for treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but is associated with serious toxicities, including pancreatitis and hypertriglyceridemia (HTG). Asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP) is a common reason for stopping asparaginase treatment. The aim of this study was to explore if HTG or early elevations in pancreatic enzymes were associated with the subsequent development of AAP. METHOD: Children (1.0-17.9 years) diagnosed with ALL, treated with asparaginase for 30 weeks, according to the NOPHO ALL2008 protocol at the University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark, were eligible. Pancreatic enzymes, triglycerides, and cholesterol were measured regularly. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were included. Seven patients were diagnosed with AAP. HTG was most evident when PEG-asparaginase and dexamethasone were administered concomitantly. Overall, there was no significant difference in triglyceride levels in patients who experienced AAP and patients who did not. An increase in triglyceride levels during concomitant dexamethasone therapy in delayed intensification was significantly associated with an increase in pancreas-specific amylase levels two weeks later (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: AAP does not seem to be associated with HTG. Continuous monitoring of pancreas enzymes does not predict AAP.

Serial Ultrasound Monitoring for Early Recognition of Asparaginase Associated Pancreatitis in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

BACKGROUND: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children and L-asparaginase is an essential component of the treatment. Cessation of L-asparaginase decreases event free survival. Acute pancreatitis is the toxicity that most commonly results in cessation of L-asparaginase. We tested whether serial ultrasound examinations could predict asparaginase-associated pancreatitis (AAP). METHODS: Children (aged 1.0-17.9 years) with childhood ALL treated at the University Hospital Rigshopitalet, Copenhagen, according to the standard or intermediate risk arms of the NOPHO ALL2008 protocol, with PEG-asparaginase of 2 or 6 week intervals, for 30 weeks had their pancreas monitored using serial ultrasound in order to detect early signs of inflammation. RESULTS: Nineteen of 31 eligible patients were included. Three of the included patients developed AAP. None of the patients, including the three patients that developed AAP, had signs of inflammatory edema or pancreas enzymes above three times the upper normal limit prior to AAP. CONCLUSION: We found no signs of inflammatory edema within the pancreas on ultrasound during treatment with PEG-asparginase in our cohort prior to development of AAP or in patients that did not develop AAP.

Asparaginase-associated pancreatitis in children.

l-asparaginase has been an element in the treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma since the late 1960s and remains an essential component of their combination chemotherapy. Among the major toxicities associated with l-asparaginase therapy are pancreatitis, allergic reactions, thrombotic events, hepatotoxicity and hyperlipidaemia. Acute pancreatitis is one of the most common reasons for stopping treatment with l-asparaginase. Short-term complications of asparaginase-associated pancreatitis include development of pseudocysts and pancreatic necrosis. Long-term complications include chronic pancreatitis and diabetes. The pathophysiology of asparaginase-associated pancreatitis remains to be uncovered. Individual clinical and genetic risk factors have been identified, but they are only weak predictors of pancreatitis. This review explores the definition, possible risk factors, treatment and complications of asparaginase-associated pancreatitis.