Long‐Term Follow‐Up of Pediatric Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosis Managed with Intralesional Cidofovir

Abstract

Objective Cidofovir is an acyclic nucleotide phosphonate antiviral medication that has been used intralesionally for the treatment of severe respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) in pediatric patients. The long-term efficacy of this medication was assessed in 11 children with severe RRP who previously required operative debulking every 2 to 6 weeks to maintain airway patency. Study Design Clinical case series. Results Ten of these children have completed therapy. Five are disease free over a mean follow-up period of 51.6 months. Five other patients with active RRP decreased their mean severity scores from 17.8 (range 11–26) to 4.0 (range 2–6) and no longer require cidofovir. One patient continues to receive cidofovir for recurrent disease after an initial favorable response. Throughout the 6-year observational period, no patients demonstrated any adverse effects, laboratory abnormalities, or evidence of carcinogenesis. Conclusion Intralesional cidofovir is a useful adjunct for managing children with tenuous airways caused by previously uncontrolled papilloma.