Helicobacter pylori infection in pediatric candidates for kidney transplantation

Chronic kidney failure was suggested to have a protective effect against Helicobacter pylori infection in adults. However, data about this effect in children is lacking. This study was designed to ascertain the prevalence, endoscopic findings, and histopathological features accompanying the Helicobacter pylori infection in children with end-stage renal disease. Data were collected from 117 children with end-stage renal disease aged 5 to 18 years that underwent routine upper gastrointestinal endoscopy before kidney transplantation between 1998 and 2009. The specimens that were taken from the antrum were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and Giemsa to detect Helicobacter pylori. Gastrointestinal symptoms were reported in 12% of the patients. Helicobacter pylori was detected in 24% of the children. The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection was high in children with abnormal endoscopic findings [P = .02]. There was no correlation between Helicobacter pylori infection and gender, dialysis status, duration of dialysis, underlying diseases, and gastrointestinal symptoms. Helicobacter pylori infection had a significant correlation with histopathological features [P = .005], age older than 10 years [P = .003], and upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings [P = .001]. In this study, Helicobacter pylori infection had a high prevalence in children with end-stage renal disease, especially in older ones. The majority of children with Helicobacter pylori infection were asymptomatic, while they had abnormal findings on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and chronic active gastritis features in histopathological assessment

value of serum uric acid as a mortality prediction in critically ill children

The role of initial serum uric acid on admission in critically ill patients is controversial; we presumed that uric acid level can predict the mortality of the admitted patients to intensive care unit as a simple test. Totally 220 consecutively admitted children [96 girls, 124 boys] with mean age 3.5 years, who were at least 24 hours in pediatric intensive care unit [PICU], were enrolled in a prospective cohort study during January 2006 to December 2007. The subsequent PICU admission in the same hospitalization, those who were discharged from the hospital and then re-admitted to the PICU during the observation period, and the patients with chronic renal failure were excluded. Serum uric acid level was measured during the first day of PICU admission. Death or transfer from PICU was considered as final outcome. The statistical analysis was done by suing linear regression analysis, ROC curve, student t-test, and Chi-square. P value less than 0.05 was considered significant. From 44 patients who had serum uric acid level more than 8 mg/dl, 17 cases died showing with a higher relative risk of 1.88, higher mortality [P<0.05]. The relative risk of death in patients who had serum uric acid > 8mg/dl and needed vasopressor was 1.04, and in those under mechanical ventilation 1.33. In patients who scored pediatric risk of mortality of > 38 it was 1.4, and in septic cases 4 [P<0.05]. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed that mainly the need for mechanical ventilation [P=0.001] and vasopressor had statistically significant correlation with the poor outcome [P=0.001]. Uric acid level during the first day of intensive critical care admission is not an independent risk of mortality in PICU. Need for mechanical ventilation or inotropic agents was associated with poor outcome and only higher uric acid level in sepsis played an additive risk factor role

Gastrointestinal manifestations of nephropathic cystinosis in children

Cystinosis is an autosomal recessive disorder which is characterized by both renal and extrarenal symptoms. Gastrointestinal dysfunction has been reported in adolescent with cystinosis, and it is rarely considered in the infants. The present case series reviewed gastrointestinal manifestations of these patients. Gastrointestinal signs and symptoms of 23 children aged 5.99 +/- 0.50 years [range, 1.0 to 12.5 years] on average with cystinosis, admitted to our department of nephrology between 1996 and 2005, were retrospectively reviewed. The inclusion criteria were the presence of the crystals of cystine in bone marrow aspiration and corneal deposition detected by slit lamp examination. Gastrointestinal signs and symptoms were as follows: vomiting in 16 patients [69.6%], hepatomegaly in 8 [34.8%], diarrhea in 6 [26.1%], splenomegaly in 5 [21.7%], constipation in 4 [17.4%], anorexia in 4 [17.4%], abdominal pain in 3 [13.0%], nausea in 2 [8.7%], and ascites in 2 [8.7%]. Height below the 3rd percentile in was seen in 16 patients [69.6%] and weight below the 3rd percentile, in 17 [73.9%]. Fifteen patients [65.2%] had both low weight and low height. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy had been performed in 6 cases and chronic inactive gastritis with H pylori infection was detected in 2 patients [8.7%]. Our study revealed a wide spectrum of gastrointestinal disturbances in young patients with cystinosis. Such findings should lead to greater awareness of the presence of gastrointestinal dysfunction in these children, encourage prompt gastrointestinal evaluation, and encourage treatment of more severely affected patients