Eruptive lingual papillitis with household transmission: a prospective clinical study

BACKGROUND: Eruptive lingual papillitis with household transmission (ELP) is an acute stomatitis of unknown cause occurring in children, with possible spread to one or several members of the family. OBJECTIVES: To verify clinical features and search for clinical characteristics of ELP. METHODS: A prospective case series, including an analysis of epidemiological and clinical factors, was conducted within private paediatric practices in collaboration with a dermatology department at the University Hospital of Nice, France. RESULTS: Thirty-eight children (21 girls and 17 boys) with clinical criteria of ELP referred from 1 February 2000 to 31 January 2002 were included in the study. Mean age at diagnosis was 3 years and 6 months. Thirty-three children attended day nursery or school. The seasonal distribution of observed cases showed a peak of incidence in spring. The eruption started abruptly. Fever was found in 15 (39%) cases. Difficulties in feeding were observed in all cases; intense salivation in 23 (61%) cases. The glossitis was characterized by inflammatory hypertrophy of the fungiform papillae on the tip and dorsolateral part of the tongue. Enlarged submaxillary or cervical lymph nodes were noted in 16 (42%) cases. Angular cheilitis was observed in four (11%) children. Spontaneous regression of the stomatitis occurred between the second and 15 days of clinical evolution. Mean duration was 7.3 days. Transmission to one or several members of the family was noted in 20 (53%) cases. Recurrence of symptoms was observed in five (13%) children. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms some clinical characteristics of ELP: localized lesions of the fungiform papillae on the tip and dorsolateral part of the tongue, high frequency of intrafamilial transmission, and possibility of recurrence. This study also showed unsuspected clinical data such as possible occurrence of fever and angular cheilitis. ELP resembles an entity termed 'transient lingual papillitis' or commonly 'lie bumps'. The origin of this eruption remains unknown, but the transmission data could suggest a possible infectious origin.     

Improved prediction of inhibitor development in previously untreated patients with severe haemophilia A

Treatment of previously untreated patients (PUPs) with severe haemophilia A is complicated by the formation of inhibitors. Prediction of PUPs with high risk is important to allow altering treatment with the intention to reduce the occurrence of inhibitors. An unselected multicentre cohort of 825 PUPs with severe haemophilia A (FVIII<0.01 IU mL^?1) was used. Patients were followed until 50 exposure days (EDs) or inhibitor development. All predictors of the existing prediction model including three new potential predictors were studied using multivariable logistic regression. Model performance was quantified [area under the curve (AUC), calibration plot] and internal validation (bootstrapping) was performed. A nomogram for clinical application was developed. Of the 825 patients, 225 (28%) developed inhibitors. The predictors family history of inhibitors, F8 gene mutation and an interaction variable of dose and number of EDs of intensive treatment were independently associated with inhibitor development. Age and reason for first treatment were not associated with inhibitor development. The AUC was 0.69 (95% CI 0.65–0.72) and calibration was good. An improved prediction model for inhibitor development and a nomogram for clinical use were developed in a cohort of 825 PUPs with severe haemophilia A. Clinical applicability was improved by combining dose and duration of intensive treatment, allowing the assessment of the effects of treatment decisions on inhibitor risk and potentially modify treatment.     

Progression of asthma measured by lung function in the childhood asthma management program

From the Childhood Asthma Management Program cohort, which was randomly assigned to receive budesonide, nedocromil, or placebo for 4-6 years, we determined the prevalence of and factors associated with at least 1% per year loss in postbronchodilator FEV(1)% predicted. Participants who had a significant reduction in postbronchodilator FEV(1)% predicted (SRP), comprised 25.7% of the cohort (n = 990). Using logistic regression, predictors of SRP at baseline were younger age (p = 0.0005), male sex (p < 0.0001), clinic (p = 0.02), and higher postbronchodilator FEV(1)% predicted (p = 0.02). Examination of the SRPs indicated that the effect of baseline lung function was such that the higher the lung function, the less steep the reduction in postbronchodilator FEV(1)% predicted (p < 0.0001). A similar proportion of SRPs was found in each treatment group. Among the SRPs, the rate of reduction in postbronchodilator FEV(1)% predicted was similar in all treatment groups. At a single site where biomarker assessment was performed, SRPs also had more prominent eosinophilic inflammation during the washout period. The course and mechanisms of lung function reduction or slow lung growth velocity in children with asthma must be defined.