A time-to-event model for acute rejections in paediatric renal transplant recipients treated with ciclosporin A.

Aims: Ciclosporin A (CsA) dosing in immunosuppression after paediatric kidney transplantation remains challenging, and appropriate target CsA exposures (AUCs) are controversial. This study aimed to develop a time-to-first-acute rejection (AR) model and to explore predictive factors for therapy outcome.

Methods: Patient records at the Children's Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, were analysed.

Beta-blockers for congestive heart failure in children.

Background: Beta-blockers are an essential part of standard therapy in adult congestive heart failure and are therefore also expected to be beneficial in children. However, congestive heart failure in children differs strongly from that in adults in terms of characteristics and aetiology; also, an increased drug clearance has been reported. Paediatric needs have therefore to be specifically investigated.

Off-label drug use among hospitalised children: identifying areas with the highest need for research.

Objective Of The Study: To analyse the off-label use of drugs on a paediatric ward in Germany, and to identify domains of pharmacotherapy with the highest need for research concerning off-label use in children.

Setting: A prospective observational study was conducted on a paediatric ward in Duesseldorf in Germany between January and June 2006.

Method: Data about patients, diagnoses and prescribed drugs were collected from the prescription records and the discharge letters.