ICAM-1 and L-selectins: the cell adhesion molecules among children with nephrotic syndrome

In this study, intercellular adhesion molecules [ICAM-1] and L-selectin were described in sera from 36 children suffering from idiopathic nephrotic syndrome by using ELISA. They were classified into three groups: Group I, 26 patients with minimal change nephritic syndrome [MCNS]; group II, 10 cases of non-minimal change nephrotic syndrome [MCNS] [6 cases of mesangioproliferative and 4 cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis] and group III,15 healthy children were enrolled to serve as controls. Patients within group I were reexamined according to the disease activity and steroid therapy. The study concluded that the elevation in serum ICAM-1 and L-selectin in MCNS and non-MCNS groups compared with the healthy controls could provide the basis for disturbance in T cell function in patients with nephrosis, suggesting that the disease is mediated by immunologic mechanisms disturbing the cellular immunity

Serum transferrin receptor and transferrin receptor/ferritin ratio distinguish iron deficiency in anemia of chronic disorders in children

This study included 44 anemic children: 20 children were iron deficiency anemia [group I], 14 children suffering from iron deficiency anemia in the presence of acute infection [group II] and 10 children had anemia of chronic disorders [group III]. In addition, 20 healthy children were included as a control group. Complete blood count, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, serum ferritin and serum transferrin receptor [sTfR] were assayed in all patients groups. It was concluded that the increase in sTfR among patients with anemia of chronic disease reflects the increased demand for iron in the erythroid cells; thus sTfR level can be used in distinguishing the coexistence of iron deficiency anemia in anemia of chronic inflammatory diseases

Cartilage proteoglycan aggrecan as a predictor of joint damage in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Aggrecan was measured in the sera of 31 children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and in the synovial fluid of 10 of them. Patients were evaluated at baseline and 3 months later. Radiographs were repeated also after 1 year. As comparison, 15 apparently healthy children with no disease and 10 children with arthritis due to other collagen vascular diseases were studied. Baseline serum aggrecan was significantly higher in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to controls and other patients. On re-evaluation, a significant drop in serum aggrecan from baseline values coincided with a significant drop in clinical and laboratory indices of active inflammation. Serum aggrecan can help to assess the extent of cartilage destruction and is useful as a prognostic tool to predict joint damage in patients with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis