PeDRA

Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance

Birthmark Studies

Examining How Virtual Reality Improves Children’s Coping During Dermatologic Procedures

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Principal Investigator:

Annie Grossberg, MD
Johns Hopkins

Overview:

Children who play virtual reality games have been found to experience less pain and anxiety during vaccination and venipuncture. The immersive experience of virtual reality provides distraction and promotes play during an otherwise painful medical procedure. The aim of this study is to determine whether play with virtual reality games improves coping and decreases
pain and anxiety in children receiving dermatologic procedures. We will invite children to use a virtual reality headset during laser therapy or skin biopsies in our outpatient pediatric dermatology clinic. Our hope is that by distracting children with virtual reality we can help them experience improved coping and reduced pain and anxiety, and thereby give a more therapeutic medical
experience. This has implications on minimizing children’s medical trauma and building children’s resilience during painful procedures.

Status:

This project was funded by a 2019 PeDRA Research Grant.

Towards a precision-based treatment for facial port wine birthmarks

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Principal Investigator:

Lisa Arkin, MD
University of Wisconsin, Madison

Overview:

Facial vascular stains affect 0.3-0.5% of newborns; they reduce quality of life due to soft tissue overgrowth, nodularity and life-altering, stigmatizing disfigurement. Laser treatment is the current standard of care and relies on selective destruction of aberrant vessels. Yet up to 50% are refractory to laser, and <25% clear entirely. Optimal laser settings require consideration of vessel diameter and depth. In treating patients, clinicians make a blind guess about these parameters, using the immediate endpoint of purpura as a visual marker for destruction. This endpoint, however, doesn’t guarantee vessel shut down or clearance of the vascular stain. Optical coherence tomography (OCT), which was FDA approved for skin-specific imaging in 2010, is a non-invasive imaging modality that uses multiple laser beams scanned simultaneously to enable rapid, non-invasive characterization of vessel diameter and depth. This novel imaging offers the potential for more precise laser destruction of vessels.

Recently, the genetic etiology of vascular stains has been elucidated. They are caused by mosaic mutations in genes that regulate the cell cycle and lead to tightly regulated cellular proliferation and growth. This discovery has transformed our fundamental understanding of the pathophysiology of these birthmarks. It provides a molecular explanation for the development of laser resistance, as these genes share oncogenic pathways that control cell growth, division and death. This underscores the observed resistance to laser as a single treatment modality, since residual mutated cells that escape complete destruction through photo coagulation will continue to multiply.

This proposal aims to leverage genotyping of vascular stains with deep, paired clinical phenotyping, to inform creation of a targeted laser algorithm. We will exploit existing institutional and Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance (PeDRA) infrastructure to create a compelling cohort. In Aim 1, we will enroll patients, create a tissue biorepository and perform deep, paired clinical phenotyping including OCT to characterize median vessel diameter and depth. In Aim 2, we will correlate genotype with clinical phenotype, and integrate OCT data to create a targeted, laser algorithm to optimize laser destruction of mutated cells. The goal is to create a formula that could be applied by defining clinical phenotype of the stain – simply by examining the patient.

Upon completion, we will have refined genotype-phenotype correlations enhanced by novel imaging, all of which will accelerate precision-based treatments to prevent disfigurement and improve quality of life.

Status:

This study was funded through the 2019 PeDRA Research Hot Seat – A PeDRA Shark Tank.

Genomic and Non genomic Causes of Segmental Pigmentation Disorder

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Principal Investigator:

Marcia Hogeling, MD
University of California, Los Angeles

Overview:

Segmental Pigmentation Disorder (SegPD) is an uncommon skin condition affecting young children. Segmental Pigmentation Disorder consists of white and brown pigmented birthmarks that appear as large patches on the body. The underlying cause of Segmental Pigmentation Disorder is not known, but it suspected to be due to genetic changes in these different areas of skin color, in the way that the skin cells produce pigment. The purpose of this study is to search for the cause of SegPD, by performing genetic testing of skin samples. Knowing the underlying cause of SegPD will allow us to better explain this skin problem to parents, and make informed recommendations on screening, monitoring and possibly treatments. Many birthmarks in children have the same mutations seen in cancer, and we think our study also might contribute to cancer research if SegPD has these mutations.

Status:

This study was funded as a 2018 PeDRA Pilot Grant and is currently underway.

Topical Sirolimus for the Treatment of Vascular Anomalies

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Principal Investigator

Sheilagh Maguiness, MD
University of Minnesota

Overview:

There are growing reports regarding the efficacy of oral M-TOR inhibitors such as sirolimus in the treatment of complex combined vascular malformations. There is strong rationale for the use of sirolimus/M-TOR inhibitors in this setting given the genetic basis for many vascular malformations (including lymphatic malformations) which involve the PIK3CA signaling pathway. The use of topical sirolimus preparations have also been reported useful in the setting of facial angiofibromas and capillary malformations . We gathered retrospective data on the use of topical sirolimus for treatment of superficial vascular anomalies.

Status:

This study is complete, resulting in one publication (see publications page).

PHACE Risk Based on Clinical Characteristics of Large Facial Hemangiomas: A Retrospective Cohort Study

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Principal Investigators:

Victoria Barrio, MD
Rady Children’s Hospital

Colleen Cotton, MD
Medical University of South Carolina

Overview:

This is a retrospective, multicenter study across fifteen sites in the US and Canada examining all children who were evaluated for PHACE syndrome (whether or not they ultimately received the diagnosis) over a five year period. Objectives of the study are to assemble a multicenter retrospective cohort of patients with large facial hemangiomas evaluated for PHACE syndrome with data regarding epidemiology, hemangioma characteristics, and comorbid anomalies; to perform sub-group analyses of the categories outlined above by hemangioma depth and location, including parotid hemangiomas; and to determine the positive predictive value of clinical features that will provide more data-driven and cost-effective screening of children with large facial hemangiomas.

Status:

Data collection is complete and two manuscripts are in preparation.

This project received a 2019 PeDRA Study Support Grant to perform further statistical analysis to help identify clinical features that may be associated with high or low risk phenotypes in patients diagnosed with PHACE. The team also hopes to compare complication rates and treatment between PHACE and non-PHACE patients with large facial hemangiomas. All statistical analysis is being performed at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Retrospective Cohort Study of Ulcerated Hemangiomas

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Principal Investigator:

Esteban Fernandez Faith, MD
Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Overview:

The goal of the study is to assemble a large cohort of patients with ulcerated infantile hemangiomas to better characterize this complication in the era of beta-blockers. The study aims to determine the efficacy of different treatment interventions and attempt to identify clinical prognostic indicators of ulceration healing. To accomplish these goals, a multi-center retrospective cohort study will be performed.

This collaborative study will provide useful data for clinicians who routinely confront the dilemma of ulcerated infantile hemangiomas in practice. By establishing the risk factors for recalcitrant ulceration and determining the most effective treatment, clinicians will be better prepared to counsel families and care for infants with this unfortunate complication.

Status:

Funded as a 2016 SPD-PeDRA Team Grant. Manuscript currently being prepared for publication.