IL-1 BLOCKADE IN PAEDIATRIC RECURRENT PERICARDITIS: A MULTICENTRIC RETROSPECTIVE STUDY OF THE ITALIAN COHORT

Introduction: Acute pericarditis is an inflammatory condition causing the occurrence of pericardial effusion. In a third of patients, the disease is recurrent. First line treatment of idiopathic pericarditis consists in non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and colchicine; glucocorticoids represent the second line treatment in resistant or intolerant cases. A recent clinical trial has enlightened the effectiveness of anakinra in adults and paediatric patients with colchicine-resistant recurrent pericarditis. Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics and response to treatment in a cohort of paediatric patients with recurrent pericarditis treated with IL inhibitors. Method…

Musculoskeletal manifestations of childhood cancer and differential diagnosis with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (ONCOREUM): a multicentre, cross-sectional study

Summary Background Presenting symptoms of childhood cancers might mimic those of rheumatic diseases. However, the evidence available to guide differential diagnosis remains scarce. Preventing wrong or delayed diagnosis is therefore important to avoid incorrect administration of glucocorticoid or immunosuppressive therapy and worsening of prognosis. As such, we aimed to assess the prevalence and characteristics of presenting musculoskeletal manifestations in patients at cancer onset and to identify the factors that differentiate childhood malignancies with arthropathy from juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Methods We did a multicentre, cross-sectional study at 25 paediatric haemato-oncology cen…

Epidemiology, Clinical Features and Prognostic Factors of Pediatric SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Results From an Italian Multicenter Study

Background: Many aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents remain unclear and optimal treatment is debated. The objective of our study was to investigate epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic characteristics of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection, focusing on risk factors for complicated and critical disease.Methods: The present multicenter Italian study was promoted by the Italian Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, involving both pediatric hospitals and general pediatricians/family doctors. All subjects under 18 years of age with documented SARS-CoV-2 infection and referred to the coordinating center were enrolled from March 2020.Results: As of 15 September 2020, 75…

Proceedings of the 23rd Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress: part one

IL-1 BLOCKADE IN PEDIATRIC RECURRENT PERICARDITIS: A MULTICENTRIC RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON THE ITALIAN COHORT

Background: Acute pericarditis is an inflammatory condition causing the occurrence of pericardial effusion. In a third of patients, the disease is recurrent. Most of the cases are idiopathic or occur after a pericardial procedure. First line treatment of idiopathic pericarditis consists in NSAIDs and colchicine; glucocorticoids represent the second line treatment in resistant or intolerant cases. The use of different biologics and immunosoppressant has been reported, with variable responses. A recent clinical trial has enlightened the effectiveness of anakinra in patients with colchicine-resistant recurrent pericarditis. Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics and response to t…

Disease status, reasons for discontinuation and adverse events in 1038 Italian children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with etanercept

Background: Data from routine clinical practice are needed to further define the efficacy and safety of biologic medications in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). The aim of this analysis was to investigate the disease status, reasons for discontinuation and adverse events in Italian JIA patients treated with etanercept (ETN). Methods: In 2013, all centers of the Italian Pediatric Rheumatology Study Group were asked to make a census of patients given ETN after January 2000. Patients were classified in three groups: group 1 = patients still taking ETN; group 2 = patients discontinued from ETN for any reasons; group 3 = patients lost to follow-up while receiving ETN. All three…

Pediatric Recurrent Pericarditis: Appropriateness of the Standard of Care and Response to IL-1 Blockade

Objective: To analyze, in a cohort of pediatric patients with recurrent pericarditis undergoing anti-interleukin (IL)-1 treatment: the agent and dosing used as first-line treatment, the long-term efficacy of IL-1 blockers, the percentage of patients achieving a drug-free remission, and the presence of variables associated with drug-free remission. Study design: Data were collected from patients' charts. The annualized relapse rate (ARR) was used for evaluation of treatment efficacy, and bivariate logistic regression analysis was used for variables associated with drug-free remission. Results: Fifty-eight patients, treated between 2008 and 2018, were included in the study (mean follow-up. 2.…