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Introduction: Markers of inflammation such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) have been found to be associated with survival in cancer patients. The aim of the current study was to establish the prognostic significance of simple laboratory markers of systemic inflammation in paediatric patients diagnosed with Wilms tumour (WT). Additionally, we aimed to compare the complete blood count (CBC) parameters of WT patients and the non-oncological control group.Material and methods: The study group included 88 children diagnosed with WT. Clinicopathological data, as well as CBC, C-reactive protein (CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels at diagnosis, were obtained. Additionally, the laboratory results of 62 healthy control paediatric patients were collected. Uni- and multivariate proportional Cox's hazard analyses were computed to create a model predicting relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in the study group.Results: High CRP, LDH, and NLR were associated with a higher stage of WT and shorter RFS, whereas all parameters correlated with OS. In multivariate analysis, only LDH levels had adverse significance in predicting RFS. C-reactive protein and LMR retained their prognostic value in the multivariate model predicting OS. Comparing the WT group with controls, high LDH, high CRP, high NLR, and high PLR were associated with WT presence.Conclusions: Preoperative LDH, CRP, NLR, PLR, and LMR have significant prognostic value in patients with WT independently of age and stage. Combined low CRP and high LMR identified the group of patients with excellent OS. Patients with high LDH were characterized by the highest risk of relapse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlabelled: Synthesis of recombinant human erythropoietin opened new possibilities for treatment of anaemia in infants., Aim: To assess the safety and effects of this treatment of anaemia in infants., Material and Methods: The study included 111 infants with anaemia aged between 3 and 10 weeks. Children were referred to the One Day Clinic of the Department of Paediatrics, Haematology and Oncology, Warsaw Medical University, by family doctors because of low haemoglobin concentration, in spite of iron supplementation. Patients were divided into two groups: group A - term infants and B - preterm infants. Both these groups were divided according to risk factors: serological incompatibility and infection at birth or just after birth. Recombinant human erythropoietin was given subcutaneously in doses of 500 IU/kg b. w./week. Therapy was ended when haemoglobin concentration reached 11 g/dl., Results: Initial haemoglobin concentration in serum is the main factor which influence the length of recombinant human erythropoietin therapy of anaemia both in preterm and term infants. Serological incompatibility and infection at birth and just after birth lengthen the period of erythropoietin treatment of anaemia in both groups of patients., Conclusions: Recombinant human erythropoietin is an effective and fully safe drug in the treatment of anaemia in the first three months of life, both in preterm and term infants. Its high effectiveness is confirmed by comparative analysis of haematologic parameters in the first trimester of retrospective control group of infants without recombinant human erythropoietin therapy and term infants who had been treated with erythropoietin.