Oral tacrolimus for steroid-dependent and steroid-resistant ulcerative colitis in children.

Purpose: To evaluate tacrolimus in 3 situations: for the induction of remission in children with severe steroid-resistant ulcerative colitis (UC); for steroid sparing in children with steroid-dependent UC in whom treatment with other immunosuppressants fails; and for the maintenance of remission in children with steroid-dependent and steroid-resistant UC.

Patients And Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 18 consecutive patients (13 with pancolitis) who were treated with oral tacrolimus at our institution from May 1999 to October 2005. Nine patients had steroid-resistant UC and 9 patients were steroid-dependent.

Varicella in pediatric liver transplant patients: a retrospective analysis of treatment and outcome.

Background: Varicella is a common childhood disease that can cause morbidity and mortality among immunosuppressed patients. There have been few previous studies monitoring the course of pediatric liver transplant patients with acute varicella. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment, outcomes, and complications of pediatric liver transplant patients admitted with acute varicella infection.