Variation of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) over time in pediatric cancer patients with febrile illness and its relevance to identified pathogen.

Objective: To evaluate the correlation of serum CRP with clinical and laboratory parameters proven to be related to the cause of infection in pediatric cancer patients.

Methods: We studied prospectively for a 12-month period, 37 pediatric cancer patients, who presented with 70 episodes of febrile illness (38 bacterial and 13 viral infections). At fever's onset and 48 h later, infection indices, such as CRP, WBC, ANC were measured in the peripheral blood.

Hepatitis C treatment concomitant to chemotherapy as "salvage" therapy in children with hematologic malignancies.

In patients with malignancies, chronic hepatitis C reactivation or severe flare is uncommon and antiviral treatment is deferred mainly due to underlying bone marrow and immune suppression. We report the use of antiviral treatment concomitantly to chemotherapy in 3 children with hematologic malignancies, chronic hepatitis C, and significant liver dysfunction.