An assessment of the predictive value of low risk criteria for children with intermittent asthma.

Background: Current asthma guidelines recommend short acting beta agonist medication (SABA) be used in combination with an inhaled corticosteroid to reduce risk for severe asthma exacerbations. This may not be appropriate for patients at low risk for severe exacerbations.

Methods: This study is a cohort study using computerized claims data from Texas Children's Health Plan.

Bronchoscopic procedures and lung biopsies in pediatric lung transplant recipients.

Bronchoscopy remains a pivotal diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in pediatric patients undergoing lung transplantation (LTx). Whether performed as part of a surveillance protocol or if clinically indicated, fibre-optic bronchoscopy allows direct visualization of the transplanted allograft, and in particular, an assessment of the patency of the bronchial anastomosis (or tracheal anastomosis following heart-lung transplantation). Additionally, bronchoscopy facilitates differentiation of infective processes from rejection episodes through collection and subsequent assessment of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and transbronchial biopsy (TBBx) samples.

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in two pediatric lung transplant patients on prolonged voriconazole treatment.

Oral voriconazole is commonly used for treatment and prophylaxis of invasive fungal disease post-LTx. Development of cutaneous SCC has been described in adult LTx recipients, although it is extremely rare in children. We describe two Caucasian children who developed cutaneous SCC beyond three yr post-LTx.

Lung transplantation and survival in children with cystic fibrosis: solid statistics--flawed interpretation.

In their provocative paper, "Lung transplantation and survival in children with cystic fibrosis," Liou and colleagues state that "Prolongation of life by means of lung transplantation should not be expected in children with cystic fibrosis. A prospective, randomized trial is needed to clarify whether and when patients derive a survival and quality of life benefit from lung transplantation." Unfortunately, that conclusion is not supportable.

Epstein-Barr virus primary mismatching and HLA matching: key risk factors for post lung transplant lymphoproliferative disease.

Background: Posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) in lung transplant recipients (LTRs) is potentially lethal with considerable morbidity. The role of donor (D)/recipient (R) HLA matching is unknown.

Method: We reviewed our LTRs from January 1994, when routine D/R Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serologic screening was begun, through to January 2000.