The use of the recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor filgrastim to shorten the duration of severe neutropenia after cytotoxic chemotherapy has become an integral part of supportive care. However, due to its short serum half-life, filgrastim must be injected daily. Pegfilgrastim, a new long-lasting form of filgrastim administrated once per cycle, has been shown in adults to be as effective in reducing the duration of severe neutropenia as daily filgrastim. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of pegfilgrastim in pediatric patients. Five children with Ewing sarcoma were alternately treated with a single 100 microg/kg pegfilgrastim dose or daily doses of 10 microg/kg Filgrastim after a total number of 58 chemotherapy cycles. Pegfilgrastim was well tolerated. The duration of severe neutropenia and the incidence of febrile neutropenia after pegfilgrastim and filgrastim were comparable. By using pegfilgrastim, the number of subcutaneous injections could be reduced to one single injection per cycle.

ObjectiveTo provide an overview of care in emergency departments (EDs) across Europe in order to interpret observational data and implement interventions regarding the management of febrile children.Design and settingAn electronic questionnaire was sent to the principal investigators of an ongoing study (PERFORM (Personalised Risk assessment in Febrile illness to Optimise Real-life Management), www.perform2020.eu) in 11 European hospitals in eight countries: Austria, Germany, Greece, Latvia, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain and the UK.Outcome measuresThe questionnaire covered indicators in three domains: local ED quality (supervision, guideline availability, paper vs electronic health records), organisation of healthcare (primary care, immunisation), and local factors influencing or reflecting resource use (availability of point-of-care tests, admission rates).ResultsReported admission rates ranged from 4% to 51%. In six settings (Athens, Graz, Ljubljana, Riga, Rotterdam, Santiago de Compostela), the supervising ED physicians were general paediatricians, in two (Liverpool, London) these were paediatric emergency physicians, in two (Nijmegen, Newcastle) supervision could take place by either a general paediatrician or a general emergency physician, and in one (München) this could be either a general paediatrician or a paediatric emergency physician. The supervising physician was present on site in all settings during office hours and in five out of eleven settings during out-of-office hours. Guidelines for fever and sepsis were available in all settings; however, the type of guideline that was used differed. Primary care was available in all settings during office hours and in eight during out-of-office hours. There were differences in routine immunisations as well as in additional immunisations that were offered; immunisation rates varied between and within countries.ConclusionDifferences in local, regional and national aspects of care exist in the management of febrile children across Europe. This variability has to be considered when trying to interpret differences in the use of diagnostic tools, antibiotics and admission rates. Any future implementation of interventions or diagnostic tests will need to be aware of this European diversity.

Group 2 data show that stem cell mobilization with Pegfilgrastim in children when performed during primary or without previous long lasting chemotherapy seems to produce earlier CD34+ peaks and better CD34+ yields than in Group 1. CD34+ cell mobilization with Pegfilgrastim in Group 3-patients with previous long lasting chemotherapy was possible.

The administration of the recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) Filgrastim for reducing the duration of severe neutropenia after cytotoxic chemotherapy has become an important part of oncologic supportive care. Due to the short serum half-life Filgrastim has to be administrated daily by subcutaneous injections. Frequent injections however mark a problem in pediatric patients. Studies in adult patients have shown a comparable effect of the new long lasting rhG-CSF Pegfilgrastim which has to be administrated only once per cycle. In the current study the effects of Pegfilgrastim in pediatric patients were analysed. Five patients (10–16 years) with Ewing sarcoma were treated in a cross over study design alternately with Pegfilgrastim and Filgrastim following the EURO E.W.I.N.G. 99 protocol. Starting on day 4 after chemotherapy patients received Filgrastim 10μg/kg daily by subcutaneous injection until an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) >1000/μl after the expected nadir. Pegfilgrastim 100μg/kg was administrated on day 4 once per cycle subcutaneously. In 3 patients the stimulation with rhG-CSF was performed after each of the 6 preoperative VIDE-(Vincristin, Ifosfamide, Doxorubicin, Etoposide) cycles, in 2 patients after 8 postoperative VAI-(Vincristin, Actinomycin D, Ifosfamide), and in 2 patients after 7 postoperative VAC-(Vincristin, Actinomycin D, Cyclophosphamide) cycles of the EURO-E.W.I.N.G. 99 protocol. The duration of grade 4 neutropenia after single administration of Pegfilgrastim was 2,8 ±3,1 (0–10) days, after daily administration of Filgrastim 3,1 ± 2,7 (0–8) days. The number of days with a body temperature over 38 degrees and grade 4 neutropenia at the same time was 0,9 ±1,5 (0–6) after Pegfilgrastim and 0,9± 1,4 (0–4) after Filgrastim. Filgrastim had to be injected 6,7 ± 1,8 (3–10) times per cycle. Bone pain associated with Pegfilgrastim was noted in only one patient. Costs for Pegfilgrastim were 16% lower than for Filgrastim. We conclude that in pediatric patients with Ewing sarcoma the duration of severe neutropenia and number of days with febrile neutropenia after once per cycle Pegfilgrastim and daily Filgrastim are comparable. By using Pegfilgrastim the number of subcutaneous injections can be reduced to one single injection and costs can be lowered.

Four different types of occluder systems were used to close a persistent foramen ovale (PFO) in 162 patients with paradoxical embolic events. Ninety-eight patients had ischemic stroke, 60 transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or prolonged reversible ischemic neurological deficit (PRIND), and 4 had peripheral arterial embolism. The age of the patients was 40.2 +/- 11.9 years and the ischemic event had happened 7 +/- 10 months before device closure. CardioSeal and Amplatzer occluders were the most commonly used devices (73 and 77 cases, respectively). Implantations were successful in all patients. Serious catheter-related complications included two device embolizations and two venous bleedings. Six patients had documented supraventricular arrhythmias within the first month after implantation, which disappeared spontaneously within some weeks without therapy in three patients; the other three patients with atrial fibrillation needed conversion to sinus rhythm. Residual leaks were found in 5 out of 116 patients who had been followed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and one leak was closed by a second device. During a follow-up period of 19.4 +/- 16.2 months per patient, TIA and PRIND occurred in 3 of 116 patients. Interventional closure of PFO is a simple, effective and quick method that is superior to surgery and avoids the problems of life-long anticoagulation.