The role of endoscopy in caustic ingestion in the pediatric population: experience in a tertiary center.

INTRODUCTION: caustic ingestion in children is rare but has potentially serious consequences. AIM: to analyze the clinical and endoscopic features and the type of caustic ingested in our population. METHODS: the upper endoscopies performed in this setting, as well as the characteristics of patients and caustics, were analyzed from 2010 to 2018. RESULTS: fifty-one endoscopies were performed (48 cases of witnessed intake or high suspicion and three with a low suspicion) in patients with a mean age of 2.55 years. Alkali ingestion was more frequent (88.2 %) and 56.9 % of the endoscopies were normal, which was more frequent among those who ingested bleach (72 %). Alkali tended to produce more esophageal injuries (31.1 %) and acids tended to produce esophageal (20 %) and esophageal-gastric injuries (20 %). Four patients developed esophageal stenosis during follow-up. DISCUSSION: even though more than half of the studies were normal, endoscopy is important in the diagnosis and prognosis of these patients.

Efficacy and safety of D,L-3-hydroxybutyrate (D,L-3-HB) treatment in multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency.

PURPOSE: Multiple acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MADD) is a life-threatening, ultrarare inborn error of metabolism. Case reports described successful D,L-3-hydroxybutyrate (D,L-3-HB) treatment in severely affected MADD patients, but systematic data on efficacy and safety is lacking. METHODS: A systematic literature review and an international, retrospective cohort study on clinical presentation, D,L-3-HB treatment method, and outcome in MADD(-like) patients. RESULTS: Our study summarizes 23 MADD(-like) patients, including 14 new cases. Median age at clinical onset was two months (interquartile range [IQR]: 8 months). Median age at starting D,L-3-HB was seven months (IQR: 4.5 years). D,L-3-HB doses ranged between 100 and 2600 mg/kg/day. Clinical improvement was reported in 16 patients (70%) for cardiomyopathy, leukodystrophy, liver symptoms, muscle symptoms, and/or respiratory failure. D,L-3-HB appeared not effective for neuropathy. Survival appeared longer upon D,L-3-HB compared with historical controls. Median time until first clinical improvement was one month, and ranged up to six months. Reported side effects included abdominal pain, constipation, dehydration, diarrhea, and vomiting/nausea. Median D,L-3-HB treatment duration was two years (IQR: 6 years). D,L-3-HB treatment was discontinued in 12 patients (52%). CONCLUSION: The strength of the current study is the international pooling of data demonstrating that D,L-3-HB treatment can be effective and safe in MADD(-like) patients.

PREPL deficiency: delineation of the phenotype and development of a functional blood assay.

PurposePREPL deficiency causes neonatal hypotonia, ptosis, neonatal feeding difficulties, childhood obesity, xerostomia, and growth hormone deficiency. Different recessive contiguous gene deletion syndromes involving PREPL and a variable combination of SLC3A1 (hypotonia-cystinuria syndrome), CAMKMT (atypical hypotonia-cystinuria syndrome), and PPM1B (2p21 deletion syndrome) have been described. In isolated PREPL deficiency, previously described only once, the absence of cystinuria complicates the diagnosis. Therefore, we developed a PREPL blood assay and further delineated the phenotype.MethodsClinical features of new subjects with PREPL deficiency were recorded. The presence of PREPL in lymphocytes and its reactivity with an activity-based probe were evaluated by western blot.ResultsFive subjects with isolated PREPL deficiency, three with hypotonia-cystinuria syndrome, and two with atypical hypotonia-cystinuria syndrome had nine novel alleles. Their IQs ranged from 64 to 112. Adult neuromuscular signs included ptosis, nasal dysarthria, facial weakness, and variable proximal and neck flexor weakness. Autonomic features are prevalent. PREPL protein and reactivity were absent in lymphocytes from subjects with PREPL deficiency, but normal in the clinically similar Prader-Willi syndrome.ConclusionPREPL deficiency causes neuromuscular, autonomic, cognitive, endocrine, and dysmorphic clinical features. PREPL is not deficient in Prader-Willi syndrome. The novel blood test should facilitate the confirmation of PREPL deficiency.

Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy in pediatric age with a pexies triangulation system: report of a case and literature review.

Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) is an infrequent procedure as it is not always easy to obtain transillumination, being this the main reason for failure of this technique. In patients with previous surgery, this procedure is more complex and there are only 6 reported cases in pediatric population. In our case, we provide the use of an endoscopic triangulation system with "T" pexies not used before in these cases. With this technique, we guarantee not to replace the introduction system afterwards, obtaining the placement of a balloon fixation system initially. We also provide several improvements that helped us developing the procedure: Placement of the jejunostomy through a gastrostomy; use of water column to avoid penetration in hollow viscus; use of a guide wire, and a triangulation pexy system.

[A real-world study focused on the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab as first-line anti-TNF treatment for pediatric Crohn's disease]. / Efectividad y seguridad en nuestro entorno de adalimumab como tratamiento anti-TNF de primera linea en niños con enfermedad de Crohn.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adalimumab (ADA), a monoclonal humanised anti-TNF antibody, is usually prescribed as a second-line treatment in paediatric Crohn's disease (CD) patients who have become unresponsive or developed intolerance to infliximab (IFX). In the case series reported, more than 70% of patients had initially been treated with IFX. Data on short- and long-term effectiveness of ADA in anti-TNF naïve patients is limited. The aim of this study is to describe our experience with ADA as a first-line anti-TNF in paediatric CD patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a multicentre retrospective study including anti-TNF naïve paediatric CD patients treated with ADA as first-line anti-TNF. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients (34males), with a mean age of 13.0±2.4years and a disease duration of 7.3 (IQR 2.7-21) months were included. Median wPCDAI was 35 (IQR 24.3-47.5). Fifty-eight out of 62 (93.5%) were on combo therapy at baseline. Clinical remission at week12 was achieved in 50 out of 62 (80.6%) and in 57 out of 60 (95.0%) at week52. Eight patients (13%) reported adverse events. Mean height, growth rate and BMI z-scores improved significantly between baseline and week 52, especially in patients with growth failure. CONCLUSIONS: ADA treatment leads to lasting clinical remission in anti-TNF naïve paediatric patients with CD. ADA significantly improved growth rate in children with CD who had growth delay at baseline.

Carglumic acid enhances rapid ammonia detoxification in classical organic acidurias with a favourable risk-benefit profile: a retrospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Isovaleric aciduria (IVA), propionic aciduria (PA) and methylmalonic aciduria (MMA) are inherited organic acidurias (OAs) in which impaired organic acid metabolism induces hyperammonaemia arising partly from secondary deficiency of N-acetylglutamate (NAG) synthase. Rapid reduction in plasma ammonia is required to prevent neurological complications. This retrospective, multicentre, open-label, uncontrolled, phase IIIb study evaluated the efficacy and safety of carglumic acid, a synthetic structural analogue of NAG, for treating hyperammonaemia during OA decompensation. METHODS: Eligible patients had confirmed OA and hyperammonaemia (plasma NH3 > 60 µmol/L) in ≥1 decompensation episode treated with carglumic acid (dose discretionary, mean (SD) first dose 96.3 (73.8) mg/kg). The primary outcome was change in plasma ammonia from baseline to endpoint (last available ammonia measurement at ≤18 hours after the last carglumic acid administration, or on Day 15) for each episode. Secondary outcomes included clinical response and safety. RESULTS: The efficacy population (received ≥1 dose of study drug and had post-baseline measurements) comprised 41 patients (MMA: 21, PA: 16, IVA: 4) with 48 decompensation episodes (MMA: 25, PA: 19, IVA: 4). Mean baseline plasma ammonia concentration was 468.3 (±365.3) µmol/L in neonates (29 episodes) and 171.3 (±75.7) µmol/L in non-neonates (19 episodes). At endpoint the mean plasma NH3 concentration was 60.7 (±36.5) µmol/L in neonates and 55.2 (±21.8) µmol/L in non-neonates. Median time to normalise ammonaemia was 38.4 hours in neonates vs 28.3 hours in non-neonates and was similar between OA subgroups (MMA: 37.5 hours, PA: 36.0 hours, IVA: 40.5 hours). Median time to ammonia normalisation was 1.5 and 1.6 days in patients receiving and not receiving concomitant scavenger therapy, respectively. Although patients receiving carglumic acid with scavengers had a greater reduction in plasma ammonia, the endpoint ammonia levels were similar with or without scavenger therapy. Clinical symptoms improved with therapy. Twenty-five of 57 patients in the safety population (67 episodes) experienced AEs, most of which were not drug-related. Overall, carglumic acid seems to have a good safety profile for treating hyperammonaemia during OA decompensation. CONCLUSION: Carglumic acid when used with or without ammonia scavengers, is an effective treatment for restoration of normal plasma ammonia concentrations in hyperammonaemic episodes in OA patients.

Yeyunostomía endoscópica directa en edad pediátrica mediante sistema de triangulación (PEXIA): aportación de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy in pediatric age with a pexies triangulation system: Report of a case and literature review

La yeyunostomía endoscópica directa es una técnica infrecuente pues no siempre es fácil conseguir la transiluminación, motivo por el que se fracasa en su colocación con mayor frecuencia. En pacientes con cirugía previa aún es más compleja, y en la edad pediátrica sólo hay 6 casos publicados en la literatura. Además se aporta la utilización de un sistema de triangulación con pexias en T que no se ha utilizado hasta ahora en esta indicación. De esta forma nos aseguramos el no tener que retirar posteriormente el sistema de introducción, dejando desde el principio un sistema de fijación con balón. Aportamos varias mejoras que nos ayudaron en la técnica: realización a través de la gastrostomía, uso de columna de agua para evitar paso por vísceras huecas, uso de hilo guía y sistema de pexia-triangulación (AU)

Direct percutaneous endoscopic jejunostomy (DPEJ) is an infrequent procedure as it is not always easy to obtain transillumination, being this the main reason for failure of this technique. In patients with previous surgery, this procedure is more complex and there are only 6 reported cases in pediatric population. In our case, we provide the use of an endoscopic triangulation system with "T" pexies not used before in these cases. With this technique, we guarantee not to replace the introduction system afterwards, obtaining the placement of a balloon fixation system initially. We also provide several improvements that helped us developing the procedure: Placement of the jejunostomy through a gastrostomy; use of water column to avoid penetration in hollow viscus; use of a guide wire, and a triangulation pexy system

Efectividad y seguridad en nuestro entorno de adalimumab como tratamiento anti-TNF de primera linea en niños con enfermedad de Crohn / A real-world study focused on the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab as first-line anti-TNF treatment for pediatric Crohn's disease

Introducción y objetivos: Adalimumab (ADA), anticuerpo anti-TNF-α monoclonal recombinante de origen humano, generalmente se emplea como tratamiento de segunda línea en niños con enfermedad de Crohn (EC) que no han respondido o han perdido respuesta a infliximab (IFX). En las series publicadas más del 70% de los pacientes habían sido tratados inicialmente con IFX. Los datos sobre la eficacia a corto y a largo plazo de ADA en pacientes naïve a anti-TNF son muy limitados. El objetivo del presente estudio es describir nuestra experiencia con ADA como tratamiento anti-TNF de primera línea en niños con EC. Material y método: Estudio multicéntrico, retrospectivo que incluye pacientes con EC tratados con ADA como anti-TNF de primera línea. Resultados: Se incluyeron 62 pacientes (34 varones) con una edad media de 13,0 ± 2,4años, un tiempo de evolución de la enfermedad de 7,3 meses (RIQ 2,7-21) y un wPCDAI de 35 puntos (RIQ 24,3-47,5). En el momento de comenzar ADA, 58 pacientes (93,5%) estaban recibiendo tratamiento inmunomodulador. A las 12 semanas de tratamiento el 80,6% (50/62) habían alcanzado la remisión clínica, así como el 95% (57/60) a las 52 semanas. Ocho pacientes (13%) presentaron efectos adversos. Se constató un incremento significativo de los z-scores de talla, velocidad de crecimiento e índice de masa corporal (IMC) a las 52 semanas de tratamiento, en especial en aquellos con retraso de crecimiento. Conclusiones: El tratamiento con ADA favorece una remisión clínica prolongada en pacientes naïve a anti-TNF. El tratamiento con ADA mejora la velocidad de crecimiento en niños con EC y retraso de crecimiento al inicio del tratamiento (AU)

Background and objectives: Adalimumab (ADA), a monoclonal humanised anti-TNF antibody, is usually prescribed as a second-line treatment in paediatric Crohn's disease (CD) patients who have become unresponsive or developed intolerance to infliximab (IFX). In the case series reported, more than 70% of patients had initially been treated with IFX. Data on short- and long-term effectiveness of ADA in anti-TNF naïve patients is limited. The aim of this study is to describe our experience with ADA as a first-line anti-TNF in paediatric CD patients. Material and methods: This is a multicentre retrospective study including anti-TNF naïve paediatric CD patients treated with ADA as first-line anti-TNF. Results: Sixty-two patients (34 males), with a mean age of 13.0 ± 2.4years and a disease duration of 7.3 (IQR 2.7-21) months were included. Median wPCDAI was 35 (IQR 24.3-47.5). Fifty-eight out of 62 (93.5%) were on combo therapy at baseline. Clinical remission at week 12 was achieved in 50 out of 62 (80.6%) and in 57 out of 60 (95.0%) at week 52. Eight patients (13%) reported adverse events. Mean height, growth rate and BMI z-scores improved significantly between baseline and week 52, especially in patients with growth failure. Conclusions: ADA treatment leads to lasting clinical remission in anti-TNF naïve paediatric patients with CD. ADA significantly improved growth rate in children with CD who had growth delay at baseline (AU)