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Long-term studies in adults indicate that sustained virologic response (SVR) after combination treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) predicts long-term clearance. Although peginterferon plus ribavirin is now standard care for children with CHC, long-term follow-up studies are not yet available. This study evaluated durability of virologic response over 5 years in children previously treated with interferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin (IFN/R). Ninety-seven of 147 children with CHC, who were treated with IFN/R and completed the 6-month follow-up in two previous clinical trials, participated in this long-term follow-up study. All were assessed annually for up to 5 years; patients with SVR were assessed for durability of virologic response. Children with SVR (n = 56) and those with detectable hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA 24-week post-treatment (n = 41) were followed for a median of 284 weeks. Overall, 70% (68/97) of patients completed the 5-year follow-up. One patient with genotype 1a CHC had SVR and relapsed at year 1 of follow-up with the same genotype. Kaplan-Meier estimate for sustained response at 5 years was 98% (95% CI: 95%, 100%). Six patients with low-positive HCV RNA levels (n = 4) or missing HCV RNA at the 24-week follow-up visit (n = 2) in the initial treatment studies had virologic response during this long-term follow-up study. Linear growth rate was impaired during treatment with rapid increases in the immediate 6 months post-treatment. Mean height percentile at the end of the 5-year follow-up was slightly less than the mean pretreatment height percentile. Five patients experienced serious adverse events; none related to study drug exposure. SVR after IFN/R predicts long-term clearance of HCV in paediatric patients; growth normalized in the majority of children during the long-term follow-up. Similar long-term results could be expected after peginterferon alfa-2b plus ribavirin treatment.

The 1993 E. coli O157:H7 epidemic in the Western United States has provided a unique opportunity to evaluate the histopathologic temporal progression of disease in the colon in children who developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). In this report we briefly summarize the clinical courses of eight patients and then discuss the colonic pathology observed in specimens obtained at surgery or at the time of autopsy. The patients were divided into two groups: group 1 consisted of six subjects whose colonic samples were obtained during the acute phase of disease, and group 2 consisted of two subjects whose samples were obtained late in their disease. Both the gross and microscopic findings showed that the most severely affected as well as the earliest affected regions of the colon were the left and transverse portions. Only later in the disease progression was there right-sided colon involvement. These findings are in contrast to the distribution described in E. coli O157:H7 hemorrhagic colitis without HUS, thus suggesting a different mechanism of injury.

Introduction: Severe VOD is an important regimen-related toxicity of hematopoietic SCT characterized by MOF and high mortality (>80% at d+100 post SCT). DF is a novel polydisperse oliogonucleotide with anti-thrombotic, anti-ischemic and thrombolytic properties, especially on microvasculature. DF appears to modulate endothelial cell (EC) injury in sVOD, with encouraging complete response (CR) rates, survival at d+100 post SCT and minimal toxicity reported. Methods: A multi-center, phase II trial was conducted in which patients (pts) stratified for age (30% risk). Study endpoints included CR, d+100 survival post SCT and toxicity. CR was defined as bilirubin Results: 150 pts were treated with DF, with 75 pts on each treatment arm: 129 pts underwent allo- and 21 auto- SCT. Median age was 36y (6m–63y). At DF start, median bilirubin was 5.0 mg/dL; median weight gain 12%; ascites was present in 77%; RUQ pain in 71%; hepatomegaly in 69%; abnormal portal flow in 44%; and MOF in 99% (at study entry, 7% were dialysis-dependent (DD), 7% ventilator-dependent (VD); 28% developed DD and 23% VD during treatment). Median duration of DF therapy was 19d (1–82d). Of 150 pts treated, 141 were evaluable for response: 65 pts achieved CR (46%) and 62 survived to d+100 (41%), including pts with prior DD and VD. Results for CR and d+100 survival have been analyzed by dose level according to age, prior SCT and Mylotarg use. No significant difference in CR and d+100 survival was found between the 2 doses, although in pediatric pts receiving 25 mg/kg/d, CR and d+100 survival was 67% (p=0.06). Toxicity was limited, but more attributable G3/4 events, including bleeding and hypotension, were recorded in pts on 40 mg/kg/d, although the difference was not significant (p=0.11). Preliminary US review demonstrated improvement in portal flow abnormalities with DF therapy. EC stress markers showed reduction in median levels of PAI-1 and nitric oxide with increase in Protein C in pts achieving CR (p Conclusion: DF treatment of sVOD/MOF results in a 46% CR rate and 41% d+100 survival post SCT: 25 mg/kg/d is the preferred dose. A phase 3 pivotal trial to confirm safety and efficacy is underway, comparing a prospective cohort of 80 DF-treated pts with sVOD/MOF to a matched historical group at 30 SCT centers across North America.

Introduction: Veno-Occlusive Disease (VOD) is a significant regimen-related toxicity of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (SCT), which when complicated by multi-system organ failure (MOF) has a case fatality rate >90%. We have treated 139 patients (pts) with VOD/MOF in a randomized, multicenter Phase II dose-finding study of Defibrotide (DF), a polydisperse oligonucleotide, with anti-thrombotic, anti-ischemic and thrombolytic properties, especially on microvasculature. Earlier studies of DF therapy for VOD/MOF have consistently shown manageable toxicity with promising complete response (CR) rates and d+100 survival post SCT. Methods: We reviewed pts to define status of renal, pulmonary, and CNS dysfunction at entry and on DF therapy. We also determined dialysis dependence (DD) and/or ventilator dependence (VD) at study entry or when newly acquired while on study. These subgroups were examined for response to treatment (CR vs no CR) and d+100 survival. Results: Of 139 pts treated, 97 had creatinine (creat) ≥ 2x admission value at study entry, of whom 42 pts had creat ≥ 3x admission value, and 12 were DD. 35 pts developed new DD on DF therapy. At entry, 69 pts had room air O2 saturation ≤ 90%, 10 were VD and 34 developed new VD on DF therapy. 33 pts were encephalopathic at study entry and 23 became encephalopathic during treatment. CR was achieved in 59/124 (48%) evaluable pts. By Kaplan Meier and on intent to treat, d+100 survival was 51/133 (38%). Pts were analyzed according to MOF (Table 1). In those with both renal and pulmonary dysfunction at study entry, 44% achieved CR and 39% d+100 survival. Pts with renal or pulmonary dysfunction at study entry, combined with encephalopathy, had a CR rate of 55% and d+100 survival of 45%. Those with MOF in all 3 systems achieved a CR rate of 50%, although d+100 survival was lower at 33%. The presence of DD at study entry or newly acquired on DF therapy reduced CR rates to 33 and 20% respectively, with a similar reduction in CR rates for VD at 20 and 25%. D+100 survival in both categories was also reduced. Conclusion: DF therapy achieved encouraging CR rates and d+100 survival in pts with MOF in up to three systems complicating VOD post SCT, and clinical benefit was seen even if pts were DD and/or VD. However, CR rates and d+100 survival were lower with DD and/or VD both at study entry and when newly acquired on DF therapy, which suggests that earlier intervention with DF may further improve outcome. Degree and Type of MOF CR D+100 survival *p