Outcome of immunosuppression in children with IgA vasculitis-related nephritis.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin A vasculitis with nephritis (IgAVN) is the most common vasculitis in children. Due to a lack of evidence, treatment recommendations are based on expert opinion, resulting in variation. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical presentation, treatment and outcome of an extremely large cohort of children with biopsy-proven IgAVN in order to identify prognostic risk factors and signals of treatment efficacy. METHODS: Retrospective data were collected on 1148 children with biopsy-proven IgAVN between 2005 and 2019 from 41 international paediatric nephrology centres across 25 countries and analysed using multivariate analysis. The primary outcome was estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and persistent proteinuria at last follow-up. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 3.7 years (interquartile range 2-6.2). At last follow-up, 29% of patients had an eGFR <90 mL/min/1.73 m2, 36% had proteinuria and 3% had chronic kidney disease stage 4-5. Older age, lower eGFR at onset, hypertension and histological features of tubular atrophy and segmental sclerosis were predictors of poor outcome. There was no evidence to support any specific second-line immunosuppressive regimen being superior to others, even when further analysing subgroups of children with reduced kidney function, nephrotic syndrome or hypoalbuminemia at onset. Delayed start of immunosuppressive treatment was associated with a lower eGFR at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: In this large retrospective cohort, key features associated with disease outcome are highlighted. Importantly, there was no evidence to support that any specific immunosuppressive treatments were superior to others. Further discovery science and well-conducted clinical trials are needed to define accurate treatment and improve outcomes of IgAVN.

Prophylactic Dose of Dalteparin in Pregnant Women With History of Venous Thromboembolisms and/or Thrombophilia: Real-World Data.

Women with a history of venous thromboembolisms (VTEs) and/or thrombophilia are at increased risk of VTE during pregnancy. We analysed our cohort of such women who were treated with a prophylactic doses of dalteparin. 152 pregnant women with 179 pregnancies were classified into 3 groups: (1) previous VTE without thrombophilia (122 pregnancies); (2) previous VTE with thrombophilia (26 pregnancies) and (3) thrombophilia only (31 pregnancies). They were treated with prophylactic dalteparin in the prepartum and postpartum periods or only in the postpartum period. Occurrences of symptomatic VTE and bleeding episodes were followed, as well as dalteparin discontinuation and anti-Xa activity. Symptomatic deep vein thrombosis occurred in 4 women (2.2%) with 2 episodes in group 1 (in the postpartum period) and 2 episodes in group 2 (one in the prepartum and another in the postpartum period). Seven episodes (3.9%) of minor bleeding occurred. Dalteparin was not stopped in any women. Anti-Xa levels were within the prophylactic range. Our real-world data show a low incidence of thrombosis and minor bleeding in pregnant women treated with prophylactic dalteparin. The incidence of recurrent VTE was lower than that reported in women with similar risk, but without prophylactic anticoagulation.

Rapunzel syndrome: a rare form of trichobezoar in the stomach with some extension into the small intestine.

Trichobezoars are gastric foreign bodies rarely found in children. They are mainly composed of swallowed hair. Rapunzel syndrome is a very rare form of trichobezoar characterized by extension of the ingested hair from the stomach into the small intestine or even beyond. Clinical presentation can range from an asymptomatic abdominal mass to severe symptoms: gastric outlet obstruction, perforation of the stomach, and acute pancreatitis. Trichobezoars are usually treated with surgical removal. Here we present the case of an 8-year-old girl in whom a firm non-tender mass in the epigastric region was palpated during a regular outpatient clinic visit. The girl reported some slight abdominal discomfort and early satiety during meals. Subsequently, focal alopecia was detected. A trichobezoar in the stomach with some extension into the duodenum was diagnosed by ultrasound, and later confirmed by a barium swallow study and CT scan. The trichobezoar was successfully surgically removed.