1.
An Individualized Red Blood Cell Transfusion Strategy Using Pediatric Perioperative-Transfusion-Trigger Score Reduced Perioperative Blood Exposure for Children: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
Luo Z, Li Y, Li X, Liao R
Therapeutics and clinical risk management. 2023;19:229-237
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The optimal red blood cell transfusion strategy for children remains unclear. We developed an individualized red blood cell transfusion strategy for children and tested the hypothesis that transfusion guided by this strategy could reduce blood exposure, without increasing perioperative complications in children. METHODS In this randomized controlled clinical trial, 99 children undergoing noncardiac surgeries who had blood loss of more than 20% total blood volume were randomly assigned to an individualized-strategy group using Pediatric Perioperative-Transfusion-Trigger Score or a control group. The amount of transfused red blood cell was counted, and patients were followed up for postoperative complications within 30 days. RESULTS Twenty-six children (53.1%) in the individualized-strategy group received transfusion perioperatively, as compared with 37 children (74%) in the control group (p < 0.05). During surgery, children in the individualized-strategy group were exposed to fewer transfusions than in the control group (0.87±1.03 vs 1.33±1.20 Red-Blood-Cell units per patient, p = 0.02). The incidence of severe complications in the individualized-strategy group had a lower trend compared to the control group (8.2% vs 18%, p = 0.160). No significant difference was found in the other outcomes. CONCLUSION This trial proved that red blood cell transfusion guided by the individualized strategy reduced perioperative blood exposure in children, without increasing the incidence of severe complications. This conclusion needs to be reaffirmed by larger-scale, multicenter clinical trials.
PICO Summary
Population
Children undergoing non-cardiac surgery who had blood loss of more than 20% total blood volume (n= 99).
Intervention
Individualized red blood cell (RBC) transfusion strategy using Pediatric Perioperative-Transfusion-Trigger Score (individualized-strategy group, n= 49).
Comparison
RBC transfusion initiated when the patient’s haemoglobin concentration was lower than 8g per deciliter, or lower than 10g per deciliter for newborns (control group, n= 50).
Outcome
Twenty-six children (53.1%) in the individualized-strategy group received transfusion perioperatively, as compared with 37 children (74%) in the control group. During surgery, children in the individualized-strategy group were exposed to fewer transfusions than in the control group (0.87±1.03 vs. 1.33±1.20 red blood cell units per patient). The incidence of severe complications in the individualized-strategy group had a lower trend compared to the control group (8.2% vs. 18%). No significant difference was found in the other outcomes.
2.
Potentially effective drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 or MIS-C in children: a systematic review
Wang Z, Zhao S, Tang Y, Wang Z, Shi Q, Dang X, Gan L, Peng S, Li W, Zhou Q, et al
European journal of pediatrics. 2022;:1-12
Abstract
The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of using potential drugs: remdesivir and glucocorticoid in treating children and adolescents with COVID-19 and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in treating MIS-C. We searched seven databases, three preprint platform, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google from December 1, 2019, to August 5, 2021, to collect evidence of remdesivir, glucocorticoid, and IVIG which were used in children and adolescents with COVID-19 or MIS-C. A total of nine cohort studies and one case series study were included in this systematic review. In terms of remdesivir, the meta-analysis of single-arm cohort studies have shown that after the treatment, 54.7% (95%CI, 10.3 to 99.1%) experienced adverse events, 5.6% (95%CI, 1.2 to 10.1%) died, and 27.0% (95%CI, 0 to 73.0%) needed extracorporeal membrane oxygenation or invasive mechanical ventilation. As for glucocorticoids, the results of the meta-analysis showed that the fixed-effect summary odds ratio for the association with mortality was 2.79 (95%CI, 0.13 to 60.87), and the mechanical ventilation rate was 3.12 (95%CI, 0.80 to 12.08) for glucocorticoids compared with the control group. In terms of IVIG, most of the included cohort studies showed that for MIS-C patients with more severe clinical symptoms, IVIG combined with methylprednisolone could achieve better clinical efficacy than IVIG alone.Conclusions: Overall, the current evidence in the included studies is insignificant and of low quality. It is recommended to conduct high-quality randomized controlled trials of remdesivir, glucocorticoids, and IVIG in children and adolescents with COVID-19 or MIS-C to provide substantial evidence for the development of guidelines. What is Known: • The efficacy and safety of using potential drugs such as remdesivir, glucocorticoid, and intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in treating children and adolescents with COVID-19/MIS-C are unclear. What is New: • Overall, the current evidence cannot adequately demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of using remdesivir, glucocorticoids, and IVIG in treating children and adolescents with COVID-19 or MIS-C. • We are calling for the publication of high-quality clinical trials and provide substantial evidence for the development of guidelines.
3.
Effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin for children with severe COVID-19: A rapid review
Zhang J, Yang Y, Yang N, Ma Y, Zhou Q, Li W, Wang X, Huang L, Luo X, Fukuoka T, et al
Annals of Translational Medicine. 2020
Abstract
Background: Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is usually used as supportive therapy, but the treatment of COVID-19 by IVIG is controversial This rapid review aims to explore the clinical effectiveness and safety of IVIG in the treatment of children with severe COVID-19 Methods: We systematically searched the literature on the use of IVIG in patients with COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), including both adults and children We assessed the risk of bias and quality of evidence and reported the main findings descriptively Results: A total of 1,519 articles were identified by initial literature search, and finally six studies met our inclusion criteria, included one randomized controlled trial (RCT), four case series and one case report involving 198 patients One case series showed the survival of COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was not improved by IVIG One case report showed high-dose IVIG could improve the outcome of COVID-19 adults Three observational studies showed inconsistent results of the effect of IVIG on SARS patients One RCT showed that IVIG did not reduce mortality or the incidence of nosocomial infection in adults with severe SARS The quality of evidence was between low and very low Conclusions: The existing evidence is insufficient to support the efficacy or safety of IVIG in the treatment of COVID-19