Derkay Score Research Articles

Inhaled Cidofovir as an Adjuvant Therapy for Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis

A previously healthy, full-term, 4-month-old boy presented with progressively weakening cry, hoarseness, and increased work of breathing. Flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy revealed glottic papillomas, which were endoscopically removed with a microdebrider in the operating room (Derkay score 23). The patient was diagnosed with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis that disseminated throughout his airway. Despite biweekly serial microdebridements, intralesional cidofovir, and systemic interferon-α, the patient's health declined substantially (Derkay score 40), culminating in a 47-day hospitalization due to complications of his disease. Inhaled cidofovir was initiated after all conventional treatments had failed. Within 6 weeks of therapy (40 mg daily per treatment, 12 days on and 2 days off), the papillomatous disease improved substantially (Derkay score 23). While inhaled cidofovir appeared to significantly reduce papillomatous disease burden in this patient, further investigation into its long-term effectiveness and safety profile is necessary.

Use of 532-nm Pulsed Potassium Titanyl Phosphate Laser and Adjuvant Intralesional Bevacizumab for Aggressive Respiratory Papillomatosis in Children

To describe the initial pediatric experience with intralesional bevacizumab (Avastin) treatment for children with severe, recurrent respiratory papilloma (RRP). Retrospective medical chart review. Tertiary care multidisciplinary aerodigestive center. Three children, aged 3 to 6 years, with severe RRP requiring more than 4 operative interventions in 1 year whose parents (or legal guardians) consented to adjuvant treatment with intralesional bevacizumab. All 3 children were treated as follows: surgical debridement with a microdebrider, pulsed potassium titanyl phosphate laser treatments, and adjuvant intralesional injections with bevacizumab (1.25 mg total). Time interval between operative interventions, Derkay severity scale for RRP, and pediatric voice-related quality of life (PVRQOL) scores. All 3 children demonstrated increased time between operative interventions. Two children had a substantial decrease in their Derkay score and improved PVRQOL scores. One child, although time between operative interventions improved, did not have any change in Derkay score and required further adjuvant therapy. Injectable bevacizumab appears to show some efficacy in prolonging the time between treatments and therefore reducing the number of treatments per year in children with severe RRP. However, before any meaningful conclusions can be drawn, further studies must be conducted in the form of head-to-head trials looking specifically at the issues of time between treatment intervals, efficacy of one adjunct over another, vocal outcomes, and whether several adjunctive treatments confer advantage over 1 treatment. In-depth and careful informed consent is mandatory for these studies so that parents are aware of the risks and benefits (known and unknown) before such individualized decisions are made.

HPV types causing juvenile recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis in South Africa

Objectives To identify human papillomavirus (HPV) types associated with juvenile onset recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis (RLP) in southern Africa, to determine if there is a correlation between HPV type and disease aggressiveness and to determine the diagnostic and prognostic value of rapid molecular techniques for detection and typing of HPV using laryngeal biopsies. Methods Laryngeal biopsies from patients undergoing surgery for RLP were screened for HPV using conventional and real-time PCR techniques. Amplicons were sequenced to determine the HPV type involved. Clinical features were correlated with HPV type. Results HPV was identified in papillomata from 18 out of 19 patients. Only HPV-6 and HPV-11 were identified, with no co-infections. There was 100% concordance between conventional and real-time PCR techniques. Patients with HPV-11 disease required more procedures and tended to have higher Derkay scores than those with HPV-6 disease. The HPV types identified in our patients were genetically similar to HPV types from geographically distinct regions. Conclusions RLP in our patient population appears to be exclusively due to HPV-6 or HPV-11. HPV-11 disease appears to be more aggressive than HPV-6 disease. Identification of the HPV types provides motivation for inclusion of vaccines against these types in vaccination programs to protect women against infection and subsequently reduce the incidence of RLP.

Prognostic factors of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis from a registry of 72 patients

Conclusions: The database revealed severity factors relating to human papillomavirus (HPV) type and age at diagnosis. While not exhaustive, the database is easy to use and could serve for a European multicentre epidemiological study. Objectives: To propose a database as a starting point for a national registry and to estimate prognostic factors in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). Materials and methods: This was a retrospective study carried out in a tertiary care teaching hospital. From January 2005 to July 2007, epidemiological, clinical and treatment information on patients undergoing endoscopy for RRP in the department was entered in a database. Data were collected on three forms: the first comprised information about disease history before assessment in the department, the second about the disease and its treatment in the department, and the third about evolution after treatment. Results: Data on 72 patients were entered into an RRP database between January 2005 and July 2007. In all, 82% had already been treated for RRP in a different centre; 24 had juvenile-onset (JORRP) and 48 adult-onset (AORRP) papillomatosis. Cidovir injections had been administered to 91% of the patients. Histology found nine cases of dysplasia, one of carcinoma in situ and one of invasive carcinoma. Subglottic and tracheal locations were significantly more frequent in JORRP than in AORRP, as were the maximum Derkay scores and annual numbers of endoscopies. Patients with type 11 HPV had significantly more endoscopies per year than those with type 6.