Background: Despite an increasing incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pediatric patients in tertiary care settings, relatively few pediatric physicians have experience with antithrombotic interventions. Objective: These guidelines of the American Society of Hematology (ASH), based on the best available evidence, are intended to support patients, clinicians, and other health care professionals in their decisions about management of pediatric VTE. Methods: ASH formed a multidisciplinary guideline panel that included 2 patient representatives and was balanced to minimize potential bias from conflicts of interest. The McMaster University GRADE Centre supported the guideline-development process, including updating or performing systematic evidence reviews (up to April of 2017). The panel prioritized clinical questions and outcomes according to their importance for clinicians and patients. The panel used the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach, including GRADE Evidence-to-Decision frameworks, to assess evidence and make recommendations, which were subject to public comment. Results: The panel agreed on 30 recommendations, covering symptomatic and asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis, with specific focus on management of central venous access device–associated VTE. The panel also addressed renal and portal vein thrombosis, cerebral sino venous thrombosis, and homozygous protein C deficiency. Conclusions: Although the panel offered many recommendations, additional research is required. Priorities include understanding the natural history of asymptomatic thrombosis, determining subgroup boundaries that enable risk stratification of children for escalation of treatment, and appropriate study of newer anticoagulant agents in children.

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Background-The aim of this study was to estimate the impact of thrombophilia on risk of first childhood stroke through a meta-analysis of published observational studies. Methods and Results-A systematic search of electronic databases (Medline via PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, Web ofScience, The Cochrane Library) for studies published from 1970 to 2009 was conducted. Data on year of publication, study design, country of origin, number of patients/control subjects, ethnicity, stroke type (arterial ischemic stroke [AIS], cerebral venous sinus thrombosis [CSVT]) were abstracted. Publication bias indicator and heterogeneity across studies were evaluated, and summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated with fixed-effects or random-effects models. Twenty-two of 185 references met inclusion criteria. Thus, 1764 patients (arterial ischemic stroke [AIS], 1526; cerebral sinus venous thrombosis [CSVT], 238) and 2799 control subjects (neonate to 18 years of age) were enrolled. No significant heterogeneity was discerned across studies, and no publication bias was detected. A statistically significant association with first stroke was demonstrated for each thrombophilia trait evaluated, with no difference found between AIS and CSVT. Summary ORs (fixed-effects model) were as follows: antithrombin deficiency, 7.06 (95% CI, 2.44 to 22.42); protein C deficiency, 8.76 (95% CI, 4.53 to 16.96); protein S deficiency, 3.20 (95% CI, 1.22 to 8.40), factor V G1691A, 3.26 (95% CI, 2.59 to 4.10); factor II G20210A, 2.43 (95% CI, 1.67 to 3.51); MTHFR C677T (AIS), 1.58 (95% CI, 1.20 to 2.08); antiphospholipid antibodies (AIS) [CSVT]) is estimated to be between 2.6 and 6.4 per 100 000 per year, reflecting a trend toward a higher frequency in more current literature. 1-3 Underlying conditions in children with symptomatic cerebrovascular accidents include congenital heart malformations, hemolytic anemias, and collagen vascular diseases, as well as some rare inborn metabolic disorders. 4 In addition, risk factors include trauma and infectious diseases. Apart from acquired thrombophilic risk factors such as the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies, 5,6 inherited thrombophilia, particularly antithrombin, protein C, and protein S deficiency, variants of coagulation factor V (G1691A) and factor II (G20210A), and elevated lipoprotein(a), have been found in small case series and case-control studies to be associated with AIS or CSVT in infants and children. Furthermore, an association of the thermolabile MTHFR C677T genotype with stroke is controversial in both adults and children. 5353 In fact, the increased likelihood of having a blood clot in the vasculature is related to elevated homocysteine levels, and mutations in the MTHFR gene only exploit their effect by contributing to the elevated homocysteine plasma level. Because adequate folate levels essentially cancel out the impaired regulation of homocysteine induced by MTHFR mutations, not all people will develop high homocysteine levels. [53][54][55][56] , Editori...

previously untreated hemophilia A patients treated with plasma-derived or recombinant factor VIII concentrates: a systematic review. J Thromb Haemost 2010; 8: 1256-65.Summary. Background: Different rates of inhibitor development after either plasma-derived (pdFVIII) or recombinant (rFVIII) FVIII have been suggested. However, conflicting results are reported in the literature. Objectives: To systematically review the incidence rates of inhibitor development in previously untreated patients (PUPs) with hemophilia A treated with either pdFVIII or rFVIII and to explore the influence of both study and patient characteristics. Methods: Summary incidence rates (95% confidence interval) from all included studies for both pdFVIII and rFVIII results were recalculated and pooled. Sensitivity analysis was used to investigate the effect of study design, severity of disease and inhibitor characteristics. Meta-regression and analysis-of-variance were used to investigate the effect of covariates (testing frequency, follow-up duration and intensity of treatment). Results: Two thousand and ninety-four patients (1167 treated with pdFVIII, 927 with rFVIII; median age, 9.6 months) from 24 studies were investigated and 420 patients were observed to develop inhibitors. Pooled incidence rate was 14.3% (10.4-19.4) for pdFVIII and 27.4% (23.6-31.5) for rFVIII; high responding inhibitor incidence rate was 9.3% (6.2-13.7) for pdFVIII and 17.4% (14.2-21.2) for rFVIII. In the multi-way ANOVA study design, study period, testing frequency and median follow-up explained most of the variability, while the source of concentrate lost statistical significance. It was not possible to analyse the effect of intensity of treatment or trigger events such as surgery, and to completely exclude multiple reports of the same patient or changes of concentrate. Conclusions: These findings underscore the need for randomized controlled trials to address whether or not the risk of inhibitor in PUPs with hemophilia A differs between rFVIII and pdFVIII.

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Pulmonary embolism (PE) is rare in childhood but evidence suggests it is under-recognised. Children diagnosed with PE at a large tertiary centre over an 8-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-six children with radiologically proven PE were identified, 31 males and 25 females, median age 12 years. Eighty-four per cent had symptoms of PE. Risk factors for thromboembolism were present in 54 patients (96.4%); most commonly immobility (58.9%), central venous line (35.7%) and recent surgery (28.6%). Investigation revealed a thrombophilic abnormality in 14/40 patients (35%). Concurrent deep vein thrombosis was confirmed in 31 patients (55.4%), predominantly lower limb. D dimer was elevated at presentation in 26/30 patients (86.7%). Eight patients underwent systemic thrombolysis. An inferior vena cava filter was placed in five patients. Therapy was complicated by major haemorrhage in 12 patients (21.4%). The majority (82.1%) had complete or partial resolution of PE following a median of 3 months anticoagulation. Seven patients had a recurrent thromboembolic event and 12 patients died (mortality 21.4%); five due to thromboembolism (8.9%) and two due to haemorrhage. Risk factors for PE in children are distinct from adults and morbidity and mortality is significant. Multicentre prospective studies are required to determine optimal treatment and long-term outcome of childhood PE.

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Background— Thrombosis, usually considered a serious but rare complication of pediatric cardiac surgery, has not been a major clinical and/or research focus in the past. Methods and Results— We noted 444 thrombi (66% occlusive, 60% symptomatic) in 171 of 1542 surgeries (11%). Factors associated with increased odds of thrombosis were age <31 days (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; P =0.002), baseline oxygen saturation <85% (OR, 2.0; P =0.001), previous thrombosis (OR, 2.6; P =0.001), heart transplantation (OR, 4.1; P <0.001), use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (OR, 1.9 P =0.01), longer cumulative time with central lines (OR, 1.2 per 5-day equivalent; P <0.001), and postoperative use of extracorporeal support (OR, 5.2; P <0.001). Serious complications of thrombosis occurred with 64 of 444 thrombi (14%) in 47 of 171 patients (28%), and were associated with thrombus location (intrathoracic, 45%; extrathoracic arterial, 19%; extrathoracic venous, 8%; P <0.001), symptomatic thrombi (OR, 8.0; P =0.02), and partially/fully occluding thrombi (OR, 14.3; P =0.001); indwelling access line in vessel (versus no access line) was associated with lower risk of serious complications (OR, 0.4; P =0.05). Thrombosis was associated with longer intensive care unit (+10.0 days; P <0.001) and hospital stay (+15.2 days; P <0.001); higher odds of cardiac arrest (OR, 4.9; P <0.001), catheter reintervention (OR, 3.3; P =0.002), and reoperation (OR, 2.5; P =0.003); and increased mortality (OR, 5.1; P <0.001). Long-term outcome assessment was possible for 316 thrombi in 129 patients. Of those, 197 (62%) had resolved at the last follow-up. Factors associated with increased odds of thrombus resolution were location (intrathoracic, 75%; extrathoracic arterial, 89%; extrathoracic venous, 60%; P <0.001), nonocclusive thrombi (OR, 2.2; P =0.01), older age at surgery (OR, 1.2 per year; P =0.04), higher white blood cell count (OR, 1.1/10 9 cells per 1 mL; P =0.002), and lower fibrinogen (OR, 1.4/g/L; P =0.02) after surgery. Conclusions— Thrombosis affects a high proportion of children undergoing cardiac surgery and is associated with suboptimal outcomes. Increased awareness and effective prevention and detection strategies are needed.