Pregnancy outcomes after maternal exposure to simvastatin and lovastatin.

Background: Our objective was to determine the frequency of adverse outcomes after maternal exposure to simvastatin and/or lovastatin during pregnancy in postmarketing experience.

Methods: We reviewed the Merck & Co., Inc.

Cathlink 20: a subcutaneous implanted central venous access device used in children with sickle cell disease on long-term erythrocytapheresis--a report of low complication rates.

Background: Experience with the use of central venous access device (CVAD) in children with sickle cell disease (SCD) on hypertransfusion is limited and published studies report wide variability in the rates of CVAD-associated complications.

Procedure: In this study, a total of 18 Cathlink 20 ports (Bard Access systems, Salt Lake City, UT) were implanted in 15 patients aged 7-20 years with SCD for 19, 230 catheter patient days.

Results: No peri-operative complications were observed.

Impact of long-term erythrocytapheresis on splenic function in patients with sickle cell disease.

Fifteen children with sickle cell disease undergoing long-term erythrocytapheresis were assessed for splenic regeneration using abdominal ultrasound and radionuclide spleen scans. Despite a significant level of reduction of hemoglobin S (HbS), none of the 15 patients showed evidence of splenic regeneration. Comparing our results with other published reports on hypertransfusion therapy in patients with sickle cell disease, it appears that the process of splenic regeneration in these patients is minimal and may depend partly on the intensity of transfusion therapy and the length of time that HbS has been maintained below 20%.