A Prospective Study on the Predictive Value of Plasma BK Virus-DNA Load for Hemorrhagic Cystitis in Pediatric Patients After Stem Cell Transplantation.

Background: In hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), late hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) has been associated with BK virus (BKV) infection. We assessed the value of plasma BKV load in predicting HC.

Methods: Plasma and urine BKV-DNA load were assessed prospectively in 107 pediatric patients.

Immunophenotypic analysis of hematopoiesis in patients suffering from Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond Syndrome.

Objectives: Shwachman-Diamond syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, skeletal abnormalities, and bone marrow failure, with high risk of leukemic evolution. The aim of the study was the immunophenotypic characterization of bone marrow cells from patients with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome to assess the maturation pathway of blood progenitor cells and to identify the presence of recurrent abnormalities.

Methods: Bone marrow samples from nineteen patients and eleven controls were analyzed by multiparameter flow cytometry.

Biosimilar granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor for mobilization of autologous peripheral blood stem cells in pediatric hematology-oncology patients.

Background: Recently biosimilars of granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) became available for prophylaxis and treatment of postchemotherapy neutropenia and for mobilization of peripheral blood CD34+ cells for either autologous or allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Most of the data on the mobilization efficacy and safety of biosimilar G-CSF are from adult patients, whereas no data are available in pediatric patients.

Study Design And Methods: This was a retrospective study on cases treated at three Italian pediatric transplant centers, from January 2011 to October 2013.

The role of surgery in the treatment of invasive fungal infection in paediatric haematology patients: a retrospective single-centre survey.

Surgery may improve the control of fungal disease and patient survival. The aim of this study was to report a single-centre experience in using surgery for the treatment of paediatric invasive fungal infection (IFI). From 2001 to 2009, 18 paediatric onco-haematology patients underwent 24 surgical procedures as treatment of IFI.