Current opinion in pediatrics
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Curr. Opin. Pediatr. · Feb 2006
ReviewEarly integration of pediatric palliative care: for some children, palliative care starts at diagnosis.
Pediatric palliative care, with its emphasis on symptom management and quality of life, is an important aspect of care of children with life-threatening illnesses. We review recent publications with implications for care of these children. ⋯ Early integration of palliative care can allow children and families to make decisions about care that fit with their values, and should become a standard of care for all children with life-threatening illnesses.
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Biochemical markers are available to detect cardiac involvement in many pediatric disease states and should be considered. ⋯ Increased workload of the heart has been associated with the release of biochemical markers (natriuretic peptides and cardiac enzymes) that indicate that a new genetic program has been activated and maladaptation is occurring in the atria, ventricles, or both. This review summarizes those that have been identified in fetal and pediatric practice. The expression of such markers is traced from early embryonic development to fetal life, to the neonate, to childhood, and then to adult life.