{"title":"Reconciling conflicting evidence on stress ulcer prophylaxis in critically ill children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.","authors":"Hiroyuki Oikawa, Shotaro Nozaki, Munehiro Furuichi","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.01823","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2026.01823","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Stress ulcer prophylaxis (SUP) is widely used in critically ill children; however, evidence for benefit is limited and previous reviews reached conflicting conclusions, particularly regarding mortality. Here we aimed to reassess the benefits and harms of SUP in critically ill children and reconcile the conflicting conclusions of previous reviews. We searched the PubMed/MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Igaku Chuo Zasshi databases from inception to May 20, 2026, for randomized and nonrandomized studies comparing SUP with placebo or no treatment in critically ill children. Risk of bias was assessed with outcome-specific risk of bias 2 and Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions, version 2 (ROBINS-I V2) and certainty with Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation; random-effects models pooled outcomes reported in ≥2 studies. The protocol was registered (PROSPERO CRD420251074125), and reporting followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) 2020 guidelines. Eighteen studies were included (7 randomized, 11 nonrandomized); all nonrandomized studies had a critical risk of bias (confounding by indication) and were excluded from synthesis. The evidence was very uncertain for all outcomes. For the primary outcome, upper gastrointestinal bleeding, no reduction was found (5 trials, n=713; risk ratio [RR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76-1.47; I²=0%), with similarly inconclusive estimates for clinically significant gastrointestinal bleeding (RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.20-3.26), mortality (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.73-1.71), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (RR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.78-1.63); the previously reported mortality signal was not reproduced. An exploratory analysis suggested an increased incidence of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI; 2 trials, n=212; RR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.24-4.90). By formally appraising every non-randomized study with ROBINS-I V2 rather than excluding them by design, this review reconciles earlier conflicting syntheses: across the largest randomized evidence base to date, prophylaxis conferred no demonstrable benefit, and the earlier mortality signal was not reproduced. With very low overall certainty, the evidence neither showed a benefit nor excluded an exploratory signal of an increased incidence of CLABSI. Accordingly, the current evidence is insufficient to support the routine use of SUP.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":"69 9","pages":"694-703"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13547725/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148882137","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nuria Benavent, Julia Oto, Patricia Verger, Alejandro Herreros-Pomares, Raquel Herranz, Bienvenida Argilés, Julia Balaguer, Antonio Juan-Ribelles, Santiago Bonanad, Pilar Medina, Adela Cañete
{"title":"Pediatric patients with cancer exhibit increased neutrophil extracellular traps and reduced active deoxyribonuclease I: diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic opportunities.","authors":"Nuria Benavent, Julia Oto, Patricia Verger, Alejandro Herreros-Pomares, Raquel Herranz, Bienvenida Argilés, Julia Balaguer, Antonio Juan-Ribelles, Santiago Bonanad, Pilar Medina, Adela Cañete","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.01004","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2026.01004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to cancer progression; however, their value as systemic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in pediatric cancers remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate circulating NET markers as minimally invasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in pediatric cancer and explore the restoration of NET degradation as a therapeutic strategy using recombinant human deoxyribonuclease I (DNaseI).</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In this prospective cohort study, plasma samples from 182 pediatric patients with diverse tumor types and 10 age-matched healthy controls were analyzed. Circulating NET markers, including cell-free DNA, calprotectin, neutrophil elastase, citrullinated histone H3-DNA complexes, and DNaseI activity, were quantified. NETs were assessed in tumor tissue samples using immunofluorescence. The diagnostic performance and prognostic value were evaluated using receiver operating characteristic and survival analyses, respectively. The ability of patient plasma to degrade NETs and the effects of recombinant human DNaseI supplementation were examined in vitro.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Plasma cell-free DNA and calprotectin levels were significantly higher in pediatric patients with cancer than in controls, particularly in high-risk patients. Cell-free DNA showed high diagnostic accuracy, whereas calprotectin and DNaseI activity discriminated between high- and low-risk patients and were associated with adverse outcomes. NETs were detected in tumor tissues with heterogeneous distribution and no consistent association with prognosis. Plasma from high-risk patients exhibited impaired NET degradation, which was restored in vitro using recombinant human DNaseI.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Circulating NETs, especially cell-free DNA and calprotectin, show promise as noninvasive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for pediatric cancers. Reduced DNaseI activity identified a potentially targetable mechanism, supporting further investigation of DNaseI-based therapeutic strategies for high-risk pediatric tumors.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":"69 9","pages":"713-725"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13547727/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148907380","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sang Hun Jung, Shin Hyeung Kwak, Gwang Jun Choi, Ja-Kyoung Yoon, Jin Young Song, I Seok Kang, June Huh
{"title":"First biallelic CASQ2 variant in a Korean child with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.","authors":"Sang Hun Jung, Shin Hyeung Kwak, Gwang Jun Choi, Ja-Kyoung Yoon, Jin Young Song, I Seok Kang, June Huh","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.01158","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3345/cep.2026.01158","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148888755","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Rising incidence of central precocious puberty in Thailand: a nationwide population-based study before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2024).","authors":"Pattara Wiromrat, Preamrudee Poomthavorn, Ratikorn Chaisiwamongkol, Chaiyawat Suppasilp, Ouyporn Panamonta, Ratchaneewan Sinitkul","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.00983","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2026.00983","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Nationwide data on the incidence of central precocious puberty (CPP) and premature thelarche (PT), a benign variant of pubertal development, are limited.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>To evaluate trends in CPP and PT incidence among Thai children before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional population-based study used National Health Security Office (NHSO) claims data from 2018 to 2024. CPP and PT were identified using ICD-10-TM (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Thai Modification) codes. Annual incidence rates (AIRs) were calculated for each NHSO-insured population, while incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were estimated using quasi-Poisson regression.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 6,782 girls and 189 boys with CPP, and 1,594 girls with PT, were included. Among girls, the CPP AIR increased from 15.0 per 100,000 person-years in 2018 to 51.7 in 2021 and remained elevated during 2022-2024 (44.1-47.7). The IRR was 2.27 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82-2.83) for pandemic versus prepandemic, and 1.06 (95% CI, 0.89-1.26) for postpandemic versus pandemic period. An age-stratified analysis showed the greatest increase among girls aged 8 to <9 years. Among boys, the CPP AIR remained low and stable (0.6-1.0 per 100,000 person-years). The female-to-male IRR was 43.0 (95% CI, 33.5-55.3). The incidence of PT in girls increased from 7.2 in 2018 to 14.6 per 100,000 person-years in 2024, with the largest increase observed among those aged 7 to <8 years.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The incidence of CPP among Thai girls increased during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained elevated thereafter, whereas the incidence of PT increased gradually. Both trends were most pronounced in peripubertal age groups. Further studies are required to determine whether these patterns reflect pandemic-related factors or an earlier onset of puberty.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":"69 9","pages":"733-742"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13547726/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148881322","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hamza Reaz Aziz, Kirsh Kumar, Nabiha Naveed, Saira Awan
{"title":"Anti-GD1b-positive sensory ataxic Guillain-Barré syndrome with bulbar involvement and Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis-like features in an adolescent: a case report.","authors":"Hamza Reaz Aziz, Kirsh Kumar, Nabiha Naveed, Saira Awan","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.00717","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2026.00717","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"743-747"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13547720/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148833205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jung Eun Choi, Hee Jeoung Lim, Kyung Hee Kim, Hae Soon Kim
{"title":"Effect of lifestyle interventions on pediatric obesity: a lifestyle medicine systematic review.","authors":"Jung Eun Choi, Hee Jeoung Lim, Kyung Hee Kim, Hae Soon Kim","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.00927","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2026.00927","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Childhood and adolescent obesity are major public health concerns with adverse cardiometabolic outcomes. Lifestyle interventions are the cornerstone of management; however, their effects are often evaluated as single components rather than being within an integrated framework. Lifestyle medicine recently emerged as a comprehensive approach emphasizing multiple health behaviors. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of lifestyle interventions on anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes in children and adolescents with overweight or obesity and interpret these findings within the framework of lifestyle medicine. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) 2020 guidelines. PubMed and Web of Science were searched for studies published from January 2019 to March 2026. Eligible studies examined children and adolescents with overweight or obesity who were receiving lifestyle interventions, including physical activity, dietary modification, or multicomponent approaches. The primary outcomes were anthropometric measures, while the secondary outcomes were cardiometabolic parameters. Sixteen studies were ultimately included. Lifestyle interventions were associated with improvements in anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes. All 5 exercise-based intervention studies reported improved anthropometric or cardiometabolic outcomes, particularly following high-intensity interval training. Among the 8 dietary intervention studies, 7 reported significant improvements, whereas one found no significant intergroup differences. All 3 multicomponent lifestyle intervention studies demonstrated favorable anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes. This analysis demonstrates that lifestyle interventions effectively treat pediatric obesity, with multicomponent approaches showing the greatest benefit. These findings support the importance of integrated lifestyle strategies consistent with lifestyle medicine principles. Further long-term studies are needed to confirm these findings.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"686-693"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13547722/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148841611","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Red cell distribution width and reticulocyte hemoglobin content as predictors of iron depletion in children with cyanotic congenital heart disease.","authors":"Hanyudh Prichayudh, Kanhatai Chiengthong, Khwaunrat Whaidee, Navaporn Phiphattanatikanunt, Vidhavas La-Orkhun, Pornthep Lertsapcharoen","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.00241","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2026.00241","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Iron-deficiency anemia is challenging to diagnose in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) because of the high hemoglobin concentration as a compensatory mechanism for cyanosis.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aimed to identify predictive parameters of iron depletion status and assess the prevalence of iron deficiency in patients with CCHD.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A descriptive study enrolled patients with CCHD aged 6 months to 15 years between September 2022 and September 2023. Participants were categorized into iron depletion and iron sufficiency groups defined by a serum ferritin level <30 ng/mL or transferrin saturation <15%. The clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters were compared between groups. The Youden index was used to determine the optimal cutoff points, maximizing both sensitivity and specificity for the red cell indices.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the 110 enrolled patients with CCHD, 28 (25.5%) had iron depletion. While hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Hct) levels were comparable between groups, the iron-depleted group exhibited significantly lower reticulocyte hemoglobin content (CHr) and higher red cell distribution width (RDW). A multivariate analysis identified an RDW ≥18.8% (odds ratio [OR], 7.79; P=0.001) and CHr <28 pg (OR, 4.97; P=0.004) as independent predictors of iron depletion. The diagnostic accuracy improved to 85.4% when these parameters were combined.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Iron depletion is highly prevalent in patients with CCHD. Because conventional parameters, such as Hb and Hct, fail to differentiate iron status owing to compensatory mechanisms, CHr and RDW serveas effective predictive tools. This combination offers a practical diagnostic alternative, especially in resource-limited settings, where standard iron studies are unavailable.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"706-712"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13547723/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148621594","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A commentary on \"Rising incidence of central precocious puberty in Thailand: a nationwide population-based study before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2018-2024)\".","authors":"Won Kyoung Cho","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.02348","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2026.02348","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"704-705"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13547724/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148833200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ashraf T Soliman, Fawzia Alyafei, Nada Alaaraj, Noor Hamed, Shayma Mohamed, Ahmed Elawwa
{"title":"Linking pediatric obesity to youth-onset type 2 diabetes: integrated longitudinal and cross-sectional evidence from population-based studies worldwide.","authors":"Ashraf T Soliman, Fawzia Alyafei, Nada Alaaraj, Noor Hamed, Shayma Mohamed, Ahmed Elawwa","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.01228","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2026.01228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Youth-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a rapidly growing pediatric metabolic disorder that parallels the global childhood obesity epidemic. Despite multiple population-based registries and a global meta-analysis documenting near-universal obesity at the time of a T2DM diagnosis, no integrated synthesis spanning 25 years and including diverse populations has been performed. Here we conducted a systematic review of PubMed and Scopus (January 2000 to March 2025) using longitudinal data from population-based registries in the USA (SEARCH), Canada (Manitoba), England and Wales (National Paediatric Diabetes Audit), Israel, Australia, and New Zealand as well as cross-sectional burden from a global meta-analysis (53 studies, n=8,942) and national audits. Study quality was appraised using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews v2. All registries showed a temporally parallel increase in the incidence of pediatric obesity and youth-onset T2DM. In the USA, the T2DM incidence rose 79% (3.8 → 6.8 per 100,000/yr, 2002-2018); in Manitoba, it nearly doubled (16.0 → 31.1 per 100,000/yr, 2009-2018); and Israel showed a 441% rise (0.63 → 3.41 per 100,000/yr, 2008-2019). The global pooled obesity prevalence at the T2DM diagnosis was 75.3% (95% confidence interval, 72.1%-78.5%), with approximately 41,600 new youth cases annually worldwide. Once-weekly semaglutide 2.4 mg (STEP TEENS trial) reduced the average body mass index by 16.1% at 68 weeks with concurrent glycemic improvement, while bariatric surgery achieved 95% T2DM remission at 3 years in adolescents (Teen-LABS cohort). Multicontinental evidence confirmed a robust temporally consistent obesity-T2DM link; obesity precedes T2DM at the population level and is present in approximately 75% of affected youths at diagnosis worldwide. Weight-reduction interventions, particularly glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and bariatric surgery, offer meaningful glycemic benefits; however, primary prevention of childhood obesity remains the most powerful strategy to arrest this epidemic.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"622-635"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13434514/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148593799","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Association between sodium content of intravenous immunoglobulin and electrolyte changes and clinical course of Kawasaki disease.","authors":"Yoshitaka Watanabe, Naomi Yagi, Toya Hattori, Chisato Oyake, Shota Endo, Maria Yoshimi, Takayoshi Kyoda, Hirokazu Ikeda","doi":"10.3345/cep.2026.00619","DOIUrl":"10.3345/cep.2026.00619","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) formulations used to treat Kawasaki disease differ markedly in sodium content; however, the clinical significance of this factor remains unclear.</p><p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Here we investigated whether sodium content influences electrolyte changes and short-term clinical outcomes of Kawasaki disease.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This single-center retrospective cohort study included 744 children with first-episode Kawasaki disease treated with 2-kg IVIG in 2010-2020. The patients were categorized into high-sodium (Glovenin-I or Venilon-I) and low-sodium (Venoglobulin IH) groups. Serum electrolytes, total protein, and immunoglobulin G levels were measured before and after IVIG administration. Outcomes included additional IVIG administration and the presence of coronary artery lesions.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Compared to the low-sodium group, the high-sodium group had significantly increased serum sodium (2.9±3.2 mEq/L vs. 1.7±2.7 mEq/L) but significantly decreased serum potassium (-0.13±0.50 mEq/L vs. -0.03±0.49 mEq/L) levels after IVIG therapy. After its administration, hyponatremia occurred more often in the low-sodium group (4.4% vs. 0.3%), whereas hypokalemia occurred more frequently in the high-sodium group (9.9% vs. 5.5%). Total protein, immunoglobulin G, and albumin levels were higher in the low-sodium group. The rates of additional IVIG use and coronary artery lesions did not differ significantly between groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our findings demonstrate that the sodium content of IVIG contributes to distinct changes in electrolyte and protein concentrations during the acute phase of Kawasaki disease. However, these biochemical differences were not associated with short-term clinical outcomes. Awareness of formulation-specific profiles may help clinicians interpret laboratory findings appropriately during IVIG therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":36018,"journal":{"name":"Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics","volume":" ","pages":"639-645"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13434513/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148377338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}