Clinical Features and Indications Associated with Mortality in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy for Pediatric Patients

ObjectivesTo identify prognostic factors and indications in patients receiving continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and to demonstrate their effect on mortality.MethodsA total of 63 patients admitted between 2011 and 2014 were included in the study. The demographic information, pediatric risk of mortality (PRISM) scores, vasoactive-inotropic score, indication for CRRT, time of starting CRRT, presence of fluid overload, durations of CRRT, and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) stay were compared between survivors and non-survivors.ResultsThe overall rate of survival was 69,8%. The most common indication for CRRT was fluid overload (31.7%) followed by acute attacks of metabolic diseases (15.9%), and resistant metabolic acidosis (15.9%). The median duration of CRRT was 58 (IQR 24-96) h. The most common CRRT modality was continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration. The CRRT modality was not different between survivors and nonsurvivors. Sepsis, as the diagnosis for admission to intensive care unit was significantly related to decreased survival when compared to acute kidney injury and acute attacks of metabolic diseases. Patients with fluid overload had significantly increased rate of death, CRRT duration, use of mechanical ventilation, and PICU stay.ConclusionsThe CRRT, can be effectively used for removal of fluid overload, treatment of acute attacks of metabolic diseases, and other indications in critically ill pediatric patients. It has a positive effect on mortality in high-risk PICU patients. This treatment modality can be used more frequently in pediatric intensive care unit with improved patient outcomes, and should be focused on starting therapy in early stages of fluid overload

Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy in Children with Primary and Secondary Immune Deficiency.

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) is a fatal demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that is caused by John Cunningham virus (JCV). It occurs almost exclusively in immunosuppressed individuals, for example, patients with AIDS and hematological and lymphoreticular malignancies. In this article, we present a review of the literature and 2 case reports with PML. The first report examines a 15-year-old male (who presented with dedicator of cytokinesis 8 deficiency) who was diagnosed as having PML based on characteristic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions and a positive PCR for JCV in cerebrospinal fluid. He was transferred for bone marrow transplantation after stabilization with therapy of maraviroc and cidofovir. The second report examines a 6-year-old male who presented with encephalitis and was also diagnosed with AIDS. He was diagnosed with PML and started treatment with cidofovir. His clinical status and MRI findings deteriorated rapidly. In immunosuppressive patients who developed encephalopathy, JCV ought to be considered

Nailfold capillaroscopy: A sensitive method for evaluating microvascular involvement in children with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objectives: The hyperinflammatory state and the viral invasion may result in endothelial dysfunction in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although a method foreseeing microvascular dysfunction has not been defined yet, studies conducted in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 have demonstrated the presence of endotheliitis. With this study, we aimed to investigate the microvascular circulation in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 and multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) by nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC)

Prevalence of Anosmia in 10.157 Pediatric COVID-19 Cases: Multicenter Study from Turkey.

Introduction: COVID-19-related anosmia is a remarkable and disease-specific finding. With this multicenter cohort study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of anosmia in pediatric cases with COVID-19 from Turkey and make an objective assessment with a smell awareness questionnaire. Material and Methods: This multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted with pediatric infection clinics in 37 centers in 19 different cities of Turkey between October 2020 and March 2021. The symptoms of 10.157 COVID-19 cases 10-18 years old were examined. Age, gender, other accompanying symptoms, and clinical severity of the disease of cases with anosmia and ageusia included in the study were recorded. The cases were interviewed for the smell awareness questionnaire at admission and one month after the illness. Results: Anosmia was present in 12.5% (1.266/10.157) of COVID-19 cases 10-18 years of age. The complete records of 1053 patients followed during the study period were analyzed. The most common symptoms accompanying symptoms with anosmia were ageusia in 885 (84%) cases, fatigue in 534 cases (50.7%), and cough in 466 cases (44.3%). Anosmia was recorded as the only symptom in 84 (8%) of the cases. One month later, it was determined that anosmia persisted in 88 (8.4%) cases. In the smell awareness questionnaire, the score at admission was higher than the score one month later (P < 0.001). Discussion: With this study, we have provided the examination of a large case series across Turkey. Anosmia and ageusia are specific symptoms seen in cases of COVID-19. With the detection of these symptoms, it should be aimed to isolate COVID-19 cases in the early period and reduce the spread of the infection. Such studies are important because the course of COVID-19 in children differs from adults and there is limited data on the prevalence of anosmia