Recombinant-activated factor VII for control and prevention of hemorrhage in nonhemophilic pediatric patients.

A total of 108 episodes among 103 nonhemophilic pediatric patients (nine newborns, 16 infants and 78 children) treated with recombinant factor-activated VII (rFVIIa) were evaluated retrospectively. These episodes were divided into two groups: group 1 included 86 occurrences for hemorrhagic control of ongoing massive bleeding due to thrombocytopenia and coagulopathy unresponsive to blood component therapy in patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever, life-threatening, intraoperative and postoperative bleeding; group 2 included 22 episodes for prevention of hemorrhage with invasive procedures in patients with chronic liver disease and associated coagulopathy, and patients without preexisting hemostatic disorder but at high risk due to their underlying diagnosis and required surgical intervention. The effective control of hemostasis response rate in group 1 was significantly lower than in group 2.

Aerosolized iloprost for pulmonary vasoreactivity testing in children with long-standing pulmonary hypertension related to congenital heart disease.

Background: In congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary blood flow and pressure, progressive changes in the vascular structure can lead to irreversible pulmonary hypertension (PH). Pulmonary hemodynamic parameters are used to determine whether surgical correction is no longer indicated. In this study, aerosolized iloprost was used to assess pulmonary vasoreactivity in children with long-standing PH related to congenital heart disease.