Massimo Masi

Atopic dermatitis : quality of life of young italian children and their families and correlation with severity score

The aim of this study was to determine the ways in which atopic dermatitis (AD) affects the lives of young Italian children and their families, in terms of quality of life, and correlate it with AD severity and the perception of severity as estimated by the family. The parents of 45 children aged 3–84 months affected by AD were asked to complete two validated questionnaires after clinical examination. The first questionnaire was about the childs quality of life (Infants’ Dermatitis Quality of Life Index); the second regarded the familys quality of life (Dermatitis Family Impact questionnaire). In a further question parents were asked to estimate the severity of the disease of the child. Childrens quality of life appeared slightly‐moderately altered (mean score 10.2) compared with the value of a control group (3.3), and itching, sleep problems and the influence of the disease on the childs mood were the cause of greatest discomfort for the child. Family quality of life appeared moderately altered (mean score 11) compared with the value of the control group (7.4). The greatest problem was the disturbed sleep of the family members. Other important problems were the economic cost for the management of the disease and the tiredness and irritability caused by the disease in parents. Analysis of the responses confirms the incorrect estimation of the severity of the disease perceived by the family. In our opinion, the two questionnaires may be useful in clinical practice to understand better the difficulties suffered by a family with a child affected by AD. They also provide data that may help to improve the clinical approach for the child and the family, and to assess the degree of under‐/overestimation of the disease by the family.

Phagocyte-specific S100 proteins and high-sensitivity C reactive protein as biomarkers for a risk-adapted treatment to maintain remission in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a comparative study

Objectives Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease affecting children. Even if remission is successfully induced, about half of the patients experience a relapse after stopping anti-inflammatory therapy. The present study investigated whether patients with JIA at risk of relapse can be identified by biomarkers even if clinical signs of disease activity are absent. Methods Patients fulfilling the criteria of inactive disease on medication were included at the time when all medication was withdrawn. The phagocyte activation markers S100A12 and myeloid-related proteins 8/14 (MRP8/14) were compared as well as the acute phase reactant high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) as predictive biomarkers for the risk of a flare within a time frame of 6 months. Results 35 of 188 enrolled patients experienced a flare within 6 months. Clinical or standard laboratory parameters could not differentiate between patients at risk of relapse and those not at risk. S100A12 and MRP8/14 levels were significantly higher in patients who subsequently developed flares than in patients with stable remission. The best single biomarker for the prediction of flare was S100A12 (HR 2.81). The predictive performance may be improved if a combination with hsCRP is used. Conclusions Subclinical disease activity may result in unstable remission (ie, a status of clinical but not immunological remission). Biomarkers such as S100A12 and MRP8/14 inform about the activation status of innate immunity at the molecular level and thereby identify patients with unstable remission and an increased risk of relapse.

Clinical effectiveness of a silk fabric in the treatment of atopic dermatitis

Background  In children with atopic dermatitis (AD), eczema is easily aggravated by contact with irritant factors (e.g. aggressive detergents, synthetic and woollen clothes, climatic factors).

Three Years of Italian Experience of an Educational Program for Parents of Young Children Affected by Atopic Dermatitis: Improving Knowledge Produces Lower Anxiety Levels in Parents of Children with Atopic Dermatitis

Abstract:  The chronic course of atopic dermatitis is a problem for children and their families: it can be extremely disabling, and may cause psychologic problems for both child and family. As atopic dermatitis affects 10% of the pediatric population, pediatricians and dermatologists spend much time on the treatment of this disease, which requires a multidisciplinary approach. To improve the quality of life of children and families affected by atopic dermatitis we have offered an educational program to the parents of young children affected by the disease. The program consists of six meetings at weekly intervals involving a pediatric allergist, a dermatologist, and a psychologist. Our experience has been positive. This type of program may help to improve the quality of life of families with children affected by atopic dermatitis. Lower levels of anxiety were observed among parents at the end of the program. We believe that educational programs of this type, in association with conventional treatment, can be useful in the long term management of the disease. They may be considered to improve the quality of life of the family and children and to create more interaction and compliance between physicians, parents, and children.

A comparison of different allergometric tests, skin prick test, Pharmacia UniCAP® and ADVIA Centaur®, for diagnosis of allergic diseases in children

Background:  The diagnosis of allergic disease is performed by skin prick tests (SPT) or through the demonstration of specific IgE in a blood sample via an in vitro test. The measurement of IgE concentration against allergens provides critical information in clinical allergy. Standardized and reproducible methods contribute to the quality of diagnosis and treatment of allergic disease.

Cerebrospinal fluid shunt infections in infants

Infection remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality following CSF shunt procedures. In this study 191 shunt procedures carried out from January 1981 to December 1992 in a series of 81 infants (less than 6 months old) were retrospectively analyzed for possible risk factors. The overall surgical infection rate was 7.8%, with 15 infections occurring in 14 patients (17.2%). No significant difference in the rate of infections was found in relation to sex, birth weight, gestational age, and type of shunt procedure (primary insertion/revision). The occurrence of other infections during the period of shunt surgery did not influence the infection risk either. Intraventricular hemorrhage and central nervous system infections as causes of the hydrocephalus were found to correlate with septic risk. Young age (less than 6 months) seems to represent the main risk factor, and this is related both to the immunologic deficiency and to the particular features of residential bacterial flora in this age group.

Rapid disease progression in HIV-1 perinatally infected children born to mothers receiving zidovudine monotherapy during pregnancy The Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children*

OBJECTIVE To investigate the outcome in children perinatally infected with HIV-1 whose mothers received zidovudine (ZDV) monotherapy in pregnancy. DESIGN Observational retrospective study of a prospectively recruited cohort. SETTING Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children. PATIENTS A group of 216 children perinatally infected with HIV-1, born in 1992-1997 and derived prospectively from birth: 38 children had mothers receiving ZDV monotherapy and for 178 children the mothers received no antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The estimated probability of developing severe disease or severe immune suppression, survival probability [95% confidence interval (CI)] within 3 years, and the hazard ratio (95% CI), adjusted for year of birth, maternal clinical condition at delivery, birthweight and treatments (Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia chemoprophylaxis and/or antiretroviral therapy before the onset of severe disease, severe immune suppression or death) were compared. RESULTS Comparison of HIV-1-infected children whose mothers were treated with ZDV with children whose mothers were not treated showed that the former group had a higher probability of developing severe disease [57.3% (95% CI 40.9-74.3) versus 37.2% (95% CI 30.0-45.4); log-rank test 7.83, P = 0.005; adjusted hazard ratio 1.8 (95% CI 1.1-3.1)] or severe immune suppression [53.9% (95% CI 36.3-73.5) versus 37.5% (95% CI 30.0-46.2); log-rank test 5.58, P = 0.018; adjusted hazard ratio 2.4, (95% CI: 1.3-4.3)] and a lower survival [72.2% (95% CI 50.4-85.7) versus 81.0% (95% CI 73.7-86.5); log-rank test 4.23, P = 0.039; adjusted hazard ratio of death 1.9 (95% CI 1.1-3.6)]. CONCLUSIONS This epidemiological observation could stimulate virologic studies to elucidate whether this rapid progression depends on in utero infection or transmission of resistant virus. Findings may suggest a need to hasten HIV-1 diagnosis in infants of ZDV-treated mothers and undertake an aggressive antiretroviral therapy in those found to be infected.

A placebo-controlled trial of cetirizine in seasonal allergic rhino-conjunctivitis in children aged 6 to 12 years.

A total of 124 children of both sexes aged between 6 and 12 years with pollen‐associated rhino‐conjunctivitis were included in a multicentre double‐blind study of parallel group design to compare the effects of cetirizine 10 mg daily, given as 5 mg morning and evening for 2 weeks, with those of placebo of identical appearance. Rhinorrhea, sneezing, nasal obstruction and nasal and ocular pruritus were evaluated using symptom scores by patients on daily self‐evaluation cards and by investigators who, in addition, made a global evaluation at the end of treatment. Appropriate wash‐out periods for previous medicines were observed. Unchanged treatment of asthma was allowed and inhaled corticosteroids were continued in 3 placebo patients. Compliance was checked and found to be less than 80% of the prescribed dosage in 2 cetirizine patients. The mean percentage of study days when symptoms were absent or at the most mild (i.e. present but not disturbing), as reported daily by the patients, was significantly greater with cetirizine (56.2%) than placebo (29.7%). This 26.5% difference was considered clinically significant. The value of this method of expressing treatment effects in allergic rhinitis is discussed. Improvement in maximum symptom scores (severest symptoms) assessed by investigators was better for cetirizine than placebo after treatment for 1 week and 2 weeks. Improvement in individual daily symptoms was greater for cetirizine than placebo after a few days. Global evaluations of response by investigators at the end of the study showed improvement in both groups that was significantly greater with cetirizine, providing a response that was considered excellent or good in 79% of patients on cetirizine compared with 50% of patients on placebo. Tolerance was good. Somnolence that was generally mild and transient was reported in 6 patients of the cetirizine group and in 2 patients of the placebo group.

Systemic Therapy of Atopic Dermatitis in Children

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common disease in childhood that is a serious burden on patients and their families. Most AD is mild and can be managed with the use of emollients and standard therapy consisting of topical corti-costeroids or topical calcineurin inhibitors. However, in a subgroup of patients with moderate to severe AD, the disease is recalcitrant to topical therapy and systemic treatments become necessary.Short courses of systemic corticosteroids are often used in clinical practice, but their use is controversial. International guidelines suggest that in the case of acute flare-ups, patients might benefit from a short course of systemic corticosteroids, but long-term use and use in children should be avoided. Ciclosporin is an immunosuppressant agent that acts directly on cells of the immune system, with an inhibitory effect on T cells. When AD cannot be controlled by standard topical therapies, ciclosporin significantly decreases symptom scores, disease extent, pruritus and sleep deprivation, and improves quality of life. The most frequent adverse effects associated with the use of ciclosporin are hypertension and renal dysfunction, but they are usually reversible after drug discontinuation. Ciclosporin has been found to be safely used, effective and well tolerated in children with severe AD. However, studies to assess the long-term effectiveness and safety of ciclosporin in AD are lacking.In patients for whom ciclosporin is not suitable, or when there is a lack of response, alternative drugs should be considered, such as azathioprine or interferon-g. Intravenous immunoglobulins and the monoclonal antibody infliximab only have a place in the systemic therapy of AD when other drugs have failed. Mycophenolate mofetil has recently been introduced in the treatment of recalcitrant AD. Efalizumab and omalizumab are monoclonal antibodies with a possible future role in the treatment of AD, but further studies are needed.

Five-year follow-up of children with perinatal HIV-1 infection receiving early highly active antiretroviral therapy

BackgroundEarly highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), started within the first months of age, has been proven to be the optimal strategy to prevent immunological and clinical deterioration in perinatally HIV-infected children. Nevertheless, data about long-term follow-up of early treated children are lacking.MethodsWe report data from 40 perinatally HIV-infected-children receiving early HAART, with a median follow-up period of 5.96 years (interquartile range [IQR]:4.21–7.62). Children were enrolled at birth in the Italian Register for HIV Infection in Children. Comparison with 91 infected children born in the same period, followed-up from birth, and receiving deferred treatment was also provided.ResultsNineteen children (47.5%) were still receiving their first HAART regimen at last follow-up. In the remaining children the first regimen was discontinued, after a median period of 3.77 years (IQR: 1.71–5.71) because of viral failure (8 cases), liver toxicity (1 case), structured therapy interruption (3 cases), or simplification/switch to a PI-sparing regimen (9 cases). Thirty-nine (97.5%) children showed CD4+ T-lymphocyte values>25%, and undetectable viral load was reached in 31 (77.5%) children at last visit. Early treated children displayed significantly lower viral load than not-early treated children, until 6 years of age, and higher median CD4+ T-lymphocyte percentages until 4 years of age. Twenty-seven (29.7%) not-early treated vs. 0/40 early treated children were in clinical category C at last follow-up (P < 0.0001).ConclusionOur findings suggest that clinical, virologic and immunological advantages from early-HAART are long-lasting. Recommendations indicating the long-term management of early treated children are needed.