Leuk Lymphoma. 2025 Jun 22:1-11. doi: 10.1080/10428194.2025.2521650. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Children with hematological malignancies, are often hospitalized in pediatric intensive care units (PICU) for sepsis with high mortality and re-admission rates. Risk factors for both are inconsistent. We reviewed data of 190 admissions of children with hematological malignancies to PICU for sepsis. Survival rate (SR) was 85%. Mortality risk factors were: non-complete remission (p < 0.01) and status post-stem cell transplantation (p = 0.02), and best predictors were inotropic drugs (p < 0.01), and Pediatric logistic organ dysfunction-2 (p < 0.01) scores. Patients with viremia had the lowest SR (50%, 0.001). One-quarter of the children were re-admitted due to sepsis, and risk factors were: High-risk (HR) hematological malignancy (p < 0.01) and lack of central venous line (CVL) removal (p < 0.01). Sepsis remains a major cause of death in children with hematological malignancies, and re-admissions are common. Our findings support the recommendation of removing CVL during sepsis and highlight those at the highest risk for sepsis to consider individualized anti-infectious prophylaxis.
PMID:40544355 | DOI:10.1080/10428194.2025.2521650
