Ultrasonographic evaluation and uric acid studies in children with congenital heart disease

Hyperuricemia and nephropathy are dangerous complications of polycythemic conditions. We have evaluated 40 patients with congenital heart disease, 20 cyanotic and 20 acyanotic, for their uric acid status and renal function. Ultrasonic evaluation of their genitourinary system was also performed. In this study serum and 24 urinary uric acid concentrations in children with CCHD were within the normal limits for their age and did not differ significantly from those with CAHD. Their renal functions were normal and none of them had renal stones on ultrasonic examination

Study on some hepatic functions and prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigenemia in Egyptian children with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis

Different parenchymal hepatic lesions including chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis have been increasingly reported in children with schistosomal hepatic fibrosis [SHF] despite the known mesenchymal nature of the disease. The prevalence of persistent hepatitis [B] surface [HBs] antigenemia and some hepatic functions have been determined in 52 children with SHF as well as in 100 age matched healthy children. High prevalence of chronic HBs antigenemia [58%] has been demonstrated in children with SHF but only in 2% of the normal children. This denotes that children with SHF represent a dangerous reservoir for hepatitis B infection to the community. Serum alanine transferase [ALT] was higher than normal in 58% of HBs seropositive patients and in none of the seronegative patients. This points to the risk of continual hepatic parenchymal injury to the HBs seropositive patients with Schistosomiasis

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency anemia and cataract

Glucose- 6- phosphate dehydrogenase [G6PD] enzyme has been shown to be deficient not only in the RBCs, but also in the other tissues including the lens of affected individuals. Thirty male children with G6PD deficiency and 30 age and sex matched normal controls were subjected to slit-lamp examination of the eye for evidence of cataract. None showed any cataractous changes. The present work emphasizes the importance of periodic slit-lamp examination of the eye in patients with G6PD deficiency

Recurrent urinary tract infections and urolithiasis

Fifty six children with recurrent urinary tract infections [UTI] were investigated for evidence of an undelying urolithiasis. Eight patients had urinary bladder stones and one only had a renal stone. The possible association between recurrent UTI and urolithiasis was discussed

Assessment of myeloperoxidase enzyme inactivity in children with kwashiorkor

The present study was carried out on 20 normal children and 20 children with kwashiorkor [11 males and 9 females], their ages ranged from 5-24 months. All cases and controls were subjected to estimation of myeloperoxidase enzyme content of polymorphonuclear leucocytes, serum iron, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, total serum protein and serum albumin. Significant decrease in myeloperoxidase content of polymorphonuclear leucocytes of children with kwashiorkor was found. Significant correlations between serum proteins, serum albumin, serum iron, mean corpuscular haemoglobin and myeloperoxidase enzyme content of polymorphonuclear leucocytes were found