| Autor: |
Veldhuijzen van Zanten SE; Division of Oncology/Haematology, Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), De Boelelaan 1118, Room KTC4.027, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.veldhuijzen@vumc.nl., Cruz O; Department of Paediatric Oncology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu (HSJD), Passeig Sant Joan de Déu, 2, Esplugues De Llobregat, 08950, Barcelona, Spain., Kaspers GJ; Division of Oncology/Haematology, Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), De Boelelaan 1118, Room KTC4.027, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.; Princess Máxima Center of Pediatric Oncology, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA, Utrecht, The Netherlands., Hargrave DR; Paediatric Oncology Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), Great Ormond Street, London, WC1N 3JH, UK., van Vuurden DG; Division of Oncology/Haematology, Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Center (VUmc), De Boelelaan 1118, Room KTC4.027, 1081 HZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. |
| Abstrakt: |
Children diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) face a dismal prognosis, with severe neurologic deterioration and inevitable death at a median of 9 months from diagnosis. Steroids are widely prescribed as supportive or palliative treatment although they are known to cause severe side effects that may reduce the quality of life. This study aims to review the current knowledge on, and use of, steroids in DIPG patients. A global questionnaire-study among health care professionals was performed to ascertain information on the current (multi-)institutional and (multi-)national use of steroids, the availability of clinical guidelines, and the need for improvements in prescribing steroids to DIPG patients. In addition, an extensive literature search was performed to review studies investigating steroids in pediatric brain tumor patients. From 150 responding health care professionals, only 7 % had clinical guidelines. The use of steroids was heterogeneous and over 85 % of respondents reported serious side effects. Fourteen articles, with low level of evidence, described the use of steroids in pediatric brain tumor patients. Clinical trials investigating optimal dose or regimen were lacking. This study is a first inventory of the availability of evidence-based information and clinical guidelines, and the current attitude towards the use of steroids in DIPG patients. To date, the risk-benefit ratio of steroids in this disease is yet to be determined. We emphasize the need for clinical trials resulting in guidelines on steroids, and possibly alternative drugs, to optimize the quality of care and quality of life of DIPG patients. |
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