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This article, published in the journal Neuropediatrics, discusses the use of therapeutic apheresis (TA) in pediatric patients with acute neurological disorders. The study, conducted at the Hannover Medical School, analyzed data on the clinical course of 31 patients who received TA between 2016 and 2023. The patients had various diagnoses, including autoimmune encephalitis, transverse myelitis, ADEM, Guillain-Barré syndrome, myasthenia gravis, and others. The study found that both plasmapheresis and immunoadsorption were effective and safe in improving the patients' conditions. However, further controlled studies are needed to determine the potential superiority of either method. [Extracted from the article]

Kanzelmeyer NK, Ahlenstiel T, Drube J, Froede K, Kreuzer M, Broecker V, Ehrich JHH, Melk A, Pape L. Protocol biopsy-driven interventions after pediatric renal transplantation. Pediatr Transplantation 2010: 14:1012-1018 © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. The therapeutic value of protocol biopsies (PBs) in renal transplant recipients remains unclear. We performed protocol biopsies in 57 children six months after transplantation. We increased the CNI dose in patients with borderline findings. In cases of Banff grade Ia, six prednisolone IV-pulses were given and the CNI dose was increased. CNI toxicity and polyomavirus nephropathy led to a reduction in the CNI dose. GFR was compared with a control group of 51 children with no PBs transplanted in the same period. Forty-two percent of PBs had no pathological changes, 24% IF/TA. Borderline findings were detected in 11%, Banff grade Ia in 15% (CNI), toxicity in 8%, and one case showed polyomavirus nephropathy. GFR after 1.5 and 2.5 yr was similar in both groups. GFR 3.5 yr after transplantation was significantly higher in the intervention group (57 ± 17 vs. 46 ± 20). Patients treated with low-dose CNI and everolimus had a significantly lower number of pathological findings in PBs. The performance of protocol biopsies followed by a standardized treatment algorithm led to better graft function 3.5 yr after transplantation. Prospective randomized studies to confirm our findings are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]