Neurologic Complications in Pediatric Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation: Analysis of Risk Factors and Outcome

Neurologic complications following stem cell transplantation are of utmost importance owing to their high morbimortality. Although many studies have been performed in the adult population, reports in children are scarce. Our objective was to determine the most common neurologic complications in a pediatric population and to analyze possible risk factors for their development. We performed an exploratory retrospective study of neurologic complications in pediatric patients who had allogeneic stem cell transplantation over the last 18 years. We identified 66 neurologic complications in 178 allogeneic stem cell transplantations. The most frequent neurologic complications were those involving the peripheral nervous system and those related to drug toxicity. Survival decreased significantly in the presence of neurologic complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that independent risk factors for developing neurologic complications were development of chronic extensive graft-vs-host disease requiring treatment, cytomegalovirus reactivation, and central nervous system radiation. Prompt diagnosis and preemptive treatment, if possible, are necessary to avoid long-term sequelae or mortality.

The Neurologic Complications Associated with Anesthesia in Pediatrics Treated with Radiotherapy Under Anesthesia

Background: Children with brain tumors experience potential neurologic complications when are treated with radiotherapy, especially if done frequently under anesthesia. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the neurologic complications associated with anesthesia in pediatrics treated with radiotherapy under anesthesia. Methods: This cross-sectional study consisted of 133 pediatric patients with a brain tumor who needed anesthesia for performing radiotherapy and were referred to Omid Charity Hospital and Imam Khomeini University Hospital from 2014 to 2020 by the census. Statistical values less than 0.05 were considered significant (P < 0.05). Results: The patients were in range of 1 - 8 years, and the number of 3,208 anesthesia inductions were conducted for daily radiotherapy. Major complications such as stroke, arrhythmia, tachyphylaxis, and aspiration were not observed. There was a significant relationship between the tumor side, anesthesia, and neurologic complications (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found between demographic data (age, sex, and weight) (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Anesthesia complications in this study were slight and insignificant. Some were either due to the tumor effect on other vital organs or prior exposure to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Thus, for providing safe anesthesia, considering the tumor effect on body organs and neurologic complications caused by it can be a great help to reduce anesthesia complications in pediatrics under radiotherapy.

Citicoline and COVID-19-Related Cognitive and Other Neurologic Complications

With growing concerns about COVID-19’s hyperinflammatory condition and its potentially damaging impact on the neurovascular system, there is a need to consider potential treatment options for managing short- and long-term effects on neurological complications, especially cognitive function. While maintaining adequate structure and function of phospholipid in brain cells, citicoline, identical to the natural metabolite phospholipid phosphatidylcholine precursor, can contribute to a variety of neurological diseases and hypothetically toward post-COVID-19 cognitive effects. In this review, we comprehensively describe in detail the potential citicoline mechanisms as adjunctive therapy and prevention of COVID-19-related cognitive decline and other neurologic complications through citicoline properties of anti-inflammation, anti-viral, neuroprotection, neurorestorative, and acetylcholine neurotransmitter synthesis, and provide a recommendation for future clinical trials.

Retrospective Analysis of Clinical and Radiologic Data Regarding Zygomatic Implant Rehabilitation with a Long-Term Follow-Up

Background: Zygomatic implants have been introduced to rehabilitate edentulous patients with severely atrophic maxillae. Their use has been reported by several studies, describing high overall survival rates at medium–long follow-up. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze if a few patient-related and implant-related features are correlated with implant success or the onset of complications. Materials and methods: Data of patients treated with zygomatic implants between May 2005 and November 2012 at three private clinics were collected and retrospectively analyzed. For each implant, the following data were collected: implant length, insertion path, ridge atrophy and sinus characteristics (width, pneumatization, thickness of mucosae, patency of sinus ostium). General patient characteristics and health status data were also recorded. The outcomes evaluated were implant failure, infective complications, early neurologic complications and overall complications. Results: A total of 33 patients (14 men, 17 women, mean age 59.1) that received 67 zygomatic implants were included in the study. The mean duration of the follow-up was of 141.6 months (min 109; max 198). In this period, a total of 16 (23.88%) implants in 8 (24.24%) patients were removed and 17 (51.51%) patients with 36 (53.73%) implants reported complications. Immediate loading resulted in a significantly lower risk of complications compared with the two-stage prosthetic rehabilitation (OR: 0.04, p = 0.002). A thickness of the sinus mucosa > 3 mm emerged to be correlated with a greater occurrence of infective complications (OR: 3.39, p = 0.019). Severe and extreme pneumatization of the sinus was significantly correlated with the incidence of overall complications (p = 0.037) and implant failure (p = 0.044). A large sinus width was predisposed to a higher risk of neurologic complications, infective complications and implant failure (p = 0.036, p = 0.032, p = 0.04, respectively). Conclusions: zygomatic implants are an alternative procedure for atrophic ridge rehabilitation when a conventional implant placement is not possible. Several clinical and anatomical factors can have a significant role in complication occurrence.

Neurologic Complications of Nutritional Disorders

A number of medical and neurologic conditions may result from inadequate ingestion, absorption, transport, or storage of critical vitamins and micronutrients. Individuals at risk for inadequate dietary intake include those who are receiving prolonged parenteral nutrition for various chronic medical conditions, those who have eating disorders or chronic alcoholism, and those who are part of a resource-limited population. Malabsorption may result from several conditions, including chronic gastrointestinal disorders and gastrointestinal surgeries. Excessive intake of vitamins such as vitamin B6 may directly cause neurotoxicity, and copper deficiency myeloneuropathy may result from excessive ingestion of zinc (often in the form of denture cream aggressively used for loose-fitting dentures), which competes with copper for absorption within the gastrointestinal tract.