Publications by authors named "Paola Saracco"

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an acquired immune-mediated bleeding disorder characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia. Its estimated yearly incidence in the pediatric population is 1.9-6.

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Article Synopsis
  • - This multicenter retrospective study investigated the effects of eltrombopag treatment in Italian children with chronic ITP, analyzing data from 56 patients across 17 centers.
  • - Patients were divided into three groups based on their treatment outcomes: those who stopped due to stable platelet counts, those who stopped due to ineffectiveness, and those who continued treatment.
  • - Results showed that 36% of patients stopped eltrombopag permanently, mainly due to inefficacy, but those who had stable platelet counts maintained improvement without further treatment, highlighting the significance of early treatment response.
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Introduction: Thrombotic events in neonates and children represent a rare although severe occurrence in view of the associated risk of mortality and sequelae. Quality evidence is limited in this field, and registry studies provide an essential base for research. The aim of this paper is to present the new Italian Registry of Infantile Thrombosis (RITI), set it into the scene of international thrombosis and stroke registries, and provide some insight on the challenges associated with registry management.

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Background: Inherited thrombocytopenias (ITs) are rare congenital bleeding disorders characterized by different clinical expression and variable prognosis. ITs are poorly known by clinicians and often misdiagnosed with most common forms of thrombocytopenia.

Material And Methods: "CHildren with Inherited Platelet disorders Surveillance" study (CHIPS) is a retrospective - prospective observational cohort study conducted between January 2003 and January 2022 in 17 centers affiliated to the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP).

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In the phase 2b/3 DIVERSITY trial, 3 months treatment with dabigatran was noninferior to standard of care (SOC) for acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) in children. In a single-arm, phase 3, secondary VTE prevention study, up to 12 months dabigatran use was associated with favorable safety. Dabigatran is approved by the European Medicines Agency and US Food and Drug Administration for pediatric indications.

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Background: Central venous catheters (CVCs) represent one of the main risk factors for venous thrombotic events (VTEs) in children.

Methods: We studied the Italian Registry of Pediatric Thrombosis (RITI) with regard to systemic radiologically confirmed CVC-related VTEs (CVC-VTEs) occurred during 6.5 years in children aged 29 days to 18 years.

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Background: Childhood immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by an isolated low platelet count. Pathogenesis of ITP is complex but many patients have platelet specific autoantibodies leading to accelerated clearance of opsonized platelets by Fc-gamma receptor (FcγR) bearing phagocytes, particularly in the spleen. In humans, there are three main types of Fcγ receptors: high-affinity FcγRI and low-affinity FcγRII and FcγRIII.

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Objective: The association between celiac disease (CD) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is still uncertain. The aim of this study was to characterize the coexistence of these two diseases in Italian children.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective multicenter study investigating the occurrence of CD in 28 children with ITP diagnosed from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2019.

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Background: The association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is still uncertain. In this multicenter retrospective study, the coexistence of both diseases was investigated in children diagnosed from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2019.

Methods: Clinical characteristics of both IBD and ITP, onset of disorders, and patient's response to treatment were collected through a structured form sent to 55 Italian pediatric referring centers for hematological disorders.

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Anticoagulant treatment of pediatric cerebral venous thrombosis has not been evaluated in randomized trials. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of rivaroxaban and standard anticoagulants in the predefined subgroup of children with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) who participated in the EINSTEIN-Jr trial. Children with CVT were randomized (2:1), after initial heparinization, to treatment with rivaroxaban or standard anticoagulants (continued on heparin or switched to vitamin K antagonist).

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Background: Multiple investigators have described an increased incidence of thromboembolic events in SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals. Data concerning hemostatic complications in children hospitalized for COVID-19/multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) are scant.

Objectives: To share our experience in managing SARS-CoV-2-associated pro-coagulant state in hospitalized children.

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Background: Fatigue is an important clinical and psychological aspect for a significant number of children affected by immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). To date, few studies have explored fatigue and its relationship with chronic ITP in pediatric age. The aim of the present multicentric pilot study is to determine fatigue perception in a large group of children with chronic ITP and their caregivers using the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (PedsQL MFS), and to compare the results with those of healthy control subjects.

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Anticoagulant treatment of pediatric central venous catheter-related venous thromboembolism (CVC-VTE) has not been specifically evaluated. In EINSTEIN-Jr, 500 children with any VTE received rivaroxaban or standard anticoagulants. A predefined analysis of the CVC-VTE cohort was performed.

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The thrombopoietin receptor agonist eltrombopag has been shown to be safe and effective for children with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The aim of the present study was to characterize eltrombopag use in current clinical practice. This is a retrospective multicenter study conducted in 17 centers affiliated to the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP).

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Background: Treatment of venous thromboembolism in children is based on data obtained in adults with little direct documentation of its efficacy and safety in children. The aim of our study was to compare the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban versus standard anticoagulants in children with venous thromboembolism.

Methods: In a multicentre, parallel-group, open-label, randomised study, children (aged 0-17 years) attending 107 paediatric hospitals in 28 countries with documented acute venous thromboembolism who had started heparinisation were assigned (2:1) to bodyweight-adjusted rivaroxaban (tablets or suspension) in a 20-mg equivalent dose or standard anticoagulants (heparin or switched to vitamin K antagonist).

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Background: Rivaroxaban has been shown to be efficacious for treatment of venous thromboembolism in adults, and has a reduced risk of bleeding compared with standard anticoagulants. We aimed to develop paediatric rivaroxaban regimens for the treatment of venous thromboembolism in children and adolescents.

Methods: In this phase 2 programme, we did three studies to evaluate rivaroxaban treatment in children younger than 6 months, aged 6 months to 5 years, and aged 6-17 years.

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Background: Rituximab (RTX; anti-CD20 mAb) is a treatment option in children with refractory immune thrombocytopenia, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AHA), and Evans syndrome (ES). Prevalence and clinical course of RTX-induced hypogammaglobulinemia in these patients are poorly known.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for persistent hypogammaglobulinemia (PH) after RTX use.

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Myelopoiesis was evaluated in 66 pediatric patients with chronic neutropenia who were positive for anti-neutrophil antibodies (median age at diagnosis: 11 months, median neutrophil count at diagnosis: 419/μl). Other causes of neutropenia were excluded. Bone marrow morphology, clonogenic tests and/or the peripheral blood CD 34+ cell count, and apoptotic rate were evaluated in 61 patients with neutropenia lasting > 12 months or severe infections.

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Objective Of The Study: In this study we aimed to retrospectively evaluate how centers, belonging to the Associazione Italiana Ematologia e Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP), manage severe acquired hypofibrinogenemia in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, particularly evaluating the therapeutic role of human fibrinogen concentrate (HFC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP).

Methods: We conducted a survey among AIEOP centers; thereafter, we collected and analyzed data with regard to the treatment of episodes of severe acquired hypofibrinogenemia occurring during the induction and reinduction phases of the AIEOP-BFM ALL 2009 protocol.

Results: In total, 15 of the 37 AIEOP centers invited to join the survey agreed to collect the data, with 10 and 5 centers declaring to react to severe acquired hypofibrinogenemia (<70 mg/dL) by administering HFC or FFP, respectively.

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At delivery, if the cord is not clamped, blood continues to pass from the placenta to the newborn during the first minutes of life, allowing the transfer of 25-35 ml/kg of placental blood to the newborn, depending on gestational age, the timing of cord clamping, the position of the infant at birth, the onset of respiration, and administration of uterotonics to the mother. However, deriving benefits from delayed cord clamping (DCC) are not merely related to placental-to-fetal blood transfusion; establishing spontaneous ventilation before cutting the cord improves venous return to the right heart and pulmonary blood flow, protecting the newborn from the transient low cardiac output, and systemic arterial pressure fluctuations. Recent meta-analyses showed that delayed cord clamping reduces mortality and red blood cell transfusions in preterm newborns and increases iron stores in term newborns.

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Background: The EINSTEIN-Jr program will evaluate rivaroxaban for the treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in children, targeting exposures similar to the 20 mg once-daily dose for adults.

Methods: This was a multinational, single-dose, open-label, phase I study to describe the pharmacodynamics (PD), pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety of a single bodyweight-adjusted rivaroxaban dose in children aged 0.5-18 years.

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Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in young children is not well documented.

Methods: Clinicians from 12 institutions retrospectively evaluated the presentation, therapeutic management, and outcome of VTE in children younger than 2 years seen in 2011-2016. Feasibility of recruiting these children in EINSTEIN-Jr.

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