Adams, Denise M.

Objectives: Systemic beta-blockers are highly effective for the management of infantile hemangiomas (IH), but little is known about infants who do not adequately respond. We aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes of suboptimal responders to standard-dose systemic beta-blockers in infants with IH. Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective cohort study to evaluate demographics, IH lesion characteristics, and treatment specifics of infants with IH with suboptimal response to baseline standard-dose propranolol treatment. Clinical response was used to assess the outcome after a therapeutic change. Results: Twenty-five infants were included in this study. Seven (28%) had segmental IH, 16 (64%) focal, and 2 (8%) indeterminate. The IHs were located on the head and neck in 21 (84%) infants, with 24 (96%) having a deep or combined component. Therapy changes after standard-dose propranolol treatment failure, most commonly by escalating propranolol dose to ≥2.5 mg/kg/d (59%) or surgical interventions (29%), were associated with good therapeutic effects. Conclusion: Among suboptimal responders to standard-dose systemic propranolol, IHs with a deep or combined component and located on the head and neck were the most common. This retrospective study was largely descriptive in nature with additional exploratory analyses. However, it is still encouraging that for patients with a suboptimal clinical response, higher propranolol doses of ≥2.5–3 mg/kg/d or second-line treatments with surgical interventions or systemic steroids can be considered as potentially safe and effective alternatives. Level of evidence: Level 4 (case series).

Objective(s): PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum (PROS) is a group of disorders caused by somatic variants in the PIK3CA gene. We aimed to update recommendations on the severity classification, testing, and medical management of patients with PROS. Methods: Using validated consensus methodology, we convened a 13-member panel in 2020 and reviewed current evidence on how to diagnose and treat PROS. The panel was asked to rate the level of disease severity, and the appropriateness of whether to test for a mutation and medical therapy in 217 patient scenarios before a virtual meeting. Panelists discussed areas of disagreement and completed ratings following the meeting. Results: The panel developed clinical presentations and endorsed the disease severity framework defined by functional impairment, a reduction in quality of life, and risk of death. Panelists agreed it is appropriate to test for a PIK3CA gene variant in every moderately/severely affected patient. Panelists agreed it may be appropriate to consider an mammalian (mechanistic) target of rapamycin inhibitor in some severely affected patients and some moderately affected patients with progressive disease. Although clinical trials have only recently begun and the evidence remains limited, panelists also agreed it may be appropriate to consider treatment with phosphoinositide 3-kinase/serine/threonine protein kinase inhibitors in severely affected patients with a confirmed PIK3CA variant or without a confirmed variant but with progressive disease. Conclusion: These recommendations represent the consensus of experts informed by published literature and experience. Future research should validate this guidance using clinical data. Once validated, we hope these recommendations will improve outcomes for patients with PROS.

Abstract Background Capillary lymphatic venous malformations (CLVM) and associated syndromes, including Klippel–Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) and congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformation, epidermal nevi, skeletal, and spinal syndrome (CLOVES), are underrecognized disorders associated with high morbidity from chronic pain, recurrent infections, bleeding, and clotting complications. The rarity of these disorders and heterogeneity of clinical presentations make large‐scale randomized clinical drug trials challenging. Identification of PIK3CA (phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate 3‐kinase catalytic subunit alpha [gene]) mutations in CLVM has made targeted medications, such as sirolimus, attractive treatment options. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety and efficacy of sirolimus therapy in CLVM. Procedure A combined prospective and retrospective cohort of pediatric and young adult patients with CLVM treated with sirolimus was evaluated for disease response, including symptom improvement, quality of life (QOL), and radiologic response. Sirolimus dosing regimens and toxicities were also assessed. Results Twenty‐nine patients with CLVM, including KTS and CLOVES, were included. Ninety‐three percent of patients reported improved QOL, and 86% had improvement in at least one symptom. Most significantly, improvement was noted in 100% of patients with bleeding and 89% with thrombotic complications with corresponding decreases in mean D‐dimer ( p = .008) and increases in mean fibrinogen ( p = .016). No patients had progressive disease on sirolimus. Most common side effects included neutropenia, lymphopenia, infection, and aphthous ulcers/stomatitis. No toxicities were life‐threatening, and none required long‐term discontinuation of sirolimus. Conclusion Sirolimus appears to be effective at reducing complications and improving QOL in patients with CLVM and associated syndromes. In this patient cohort, sirolimus was well tolerated and resulted in few treatment‐related toxicities.

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has caused significant shifts in patient care including a steep decline in ambulatory visits and a marked increase in the use of telemedicine. Infantile hemangiomas (IH) can require urgent evaluation and risk stratification to determine which infants need treatment and which can be managed with continued observation. For those requiring treatment, prompt initiation decreases morbidity and improves long‐term outcomes. The Hemangioma Investigator Group has created consensus recommendations for management of IH via telemedicine. FDA/EMA‐approved monitoring guidelines, clinical practice guidelines, and relevant, up‐to‐date publications regarding initiation and monitoring of beta‐blocker therapy were used to inform the recommendations. Clinical decision‐making guidelines about when telehealth is an appropriate alternative to in‐office visits, including medication initiation, dosage changes, and ongoing evaluation, are included. The importance of communication with caregivers in the context of telemedicine is discussed, and online resources for both hemangioma education and propranolol therapy are provided.

BackgroundHumanism and professionalism are virtues intrinsic to the practice of medicine, for which we lack a standard, evidence‐based approach for teaching and evaluation. Pediatric hematology‐oncology (PHO) fellowship training brings new and significant stressors, making it an attractive setting for innovation in humanism and professionalism training.ProcedureWe electronically surveyed a national sample of PHO fellows to identify fellows' educational needs in humanism and professionalism. Next, we developed a case‐based, faculty‐facilitated discussion curriculum to teach this content within pilot fellowship programs. We assessed whether fellowships would decide to offer the curriculum, feasibility of administering the curriculum, and satisfaction of fellow and faculty participants.ResultsSurveys were completed by 187 fellows (35%). A minority (29%) reported that their training program offers a formal curriculum in humanism and/or professionalism. A majority desires more formal teaching on balancing clinical practice and research (85%), coping with death/dying (85%), bereavement (78%), balancing work and personal life (75%), navigating challenging relationships with patients (74%), and depression/burn out (71%). These six topics were condensed into four case‐based modules, which proved feasible to deliver at all pilot sites. Ten fellowship programs agreed to administer the novel curriculum. The majority (90%) of responding fellows and faculty reported the sessions touched on issues important for training, stimulated reflective communication, and were valuable.ConclusionsPediatric hematology‐oncology fellows identify numerous gaps in their training related to humanism and professionalism. This curriculum offers an opportunity to systematically address these educational needs and can serve as a model for wider implementation. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:335–340. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.