Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40438778›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in pediatrics2025

Alpha-2 agonists for refractory neurological symptoms in pediatric palliative care: a scoping review.

Annalisa Salerno, Fernando Baratiri, Chiara La Piana, Angelica Bincoletto, Franca Benini, Anna Zanin

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Annalisa Salerno *Palliative Care and Pain Service, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Fernando Baratiri *Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Chiara La PianaDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Angelica BincolettoDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Franca BeniniPalliative Care and Pain Service, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
Anna ZaninPalliative Care and Pain Service, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Children receiving palliative care often suffer from refractory neurological symptoms. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the use of alpha-2 agonists as a second- or third-line therapy for severe dystonia and irritability. Objectives: The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the scientific literature on the use of alpha-2 agonists for the treatment of refractory neurological symptoms in pediatric palliative care, evaluating the evidence available and identifying gaps related to their reported efficacy and safety. Methods: A scoping review was performed according to the PRISMA extension. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, CINAHL, and The Cochrane Library, using terms referring to alpha-2 agonists and neurological symptoms in pediatric palliative care. Results: Seven articles were identified, including three case reports, two case series, one observational cohort study, and one retrospective analysis. Two drugs (dexmedetomidine, Conclusion: Alpha-2 agonists are increasingly being used to manage intractable neurological symptoms in pediatric palliative care. However, evidence regarding their safety profile and effectiveness remains limited, highlighting the need for further research in this area.

Indexed as

alpha-2-agonist agentschildrenclonidinedexmedetomidinedystoniairritabilitypediatric palliative carerefractory neurological symptoms

Identifiers

PMID40438778
PMCPMC12118468

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.