Evaluation of selected markers of the immune system in children of renal transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether chronic use of immunosuppressive drugs during pregnancy in women after renal transplantation affects the concentration of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM in the serum of their children. MATERIAL: Seventy-eight children aged 1 day to 15 years were enrolled. The study group consisted of 39 children born to renal transplant recipient mothers. The control group comprised 39 children whose mothers had not received immunosuppressive medications during pregnancy and were born at similar gestational age. METHODS: Serum concentrations of IgG and IgM were evaluated with the use of agglutination immunoassays on Siemens or Cobas device. Age-adjusted reference values for immunoglobulins formulated by Wolska-Kusnierz et al were used. Statistical analysis was performed with the use of Statistica 10.0 software with P value <.05 considered significant. RESULTS: Normal IgG concentrations were found in 82.05% (32) of children from the study group and 79.49% (31) of the control group. IgG concentrations below normal range were observed in 12.82% (5) of children from the study group and in 15.38% (6) of the control group. Normal concentrations of IgM were found in 53.85% (21) of children from the study group and in 61.54% (24) of the control group. Decreased levels of IgM were observed in 38.46% (15) of children from the study group and 35.9% (14) of the control group. There were no significant differences regarding the analyzed values between the groups. CONCLUSION: The exposure to chronic intrauterine immunosuppression had no significant effect on the concentration of IgG or IgM in children born to kidney transplant recipients.

Analysis of the selected biochemical parameters of liver and kidney function in children of mothers after liver transplantation.

INTRODUCTION: Children of mothers after liver transplantation (LT) are exposed during fetal life to the immunosuppressive agents. These drugs may have hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the work was to assess liver and kidney parameters of children born from mothers who had LT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The research included 51 children of mothers after LT and 51 children from a control group who were born in the First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Warsaw between 2001 and 2013. The control group consisted of children born in the similar gestational age. Analysis concerned neonates, infants, and children older than 12 months. Two liver parameters (alanine transaminase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST]) as well as two kidney parameters (urea and creatinine) were assessed. For statistical analysis we used Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: All children from the LT group had correct ALT levels. In the control group, 5 of 51 cases (9.8 %) had levels that were greater than the norm, and those cases concerned only children younger than 12 months. The average concentration of ALT in the LT group was 15.14 U/L and the average for the control group was 22.6 U/L (P = .012699, Mann-Whitney test). Three of 51 children in the LT group (5.9%) and 8 of 51 (15.7%) in the control group had AST levels that were increased (P = .2003; Fisher's exact test). Incorrect AST levels were reported in all age groups. Incorrect values of kidney parameters concerned only neonates. Increased creatinine levels were reported in 3 of 51 cases (5.9%) in the LT group and in 1 of 51 cases (1.96%) in the control group (P = .6175; Fisher's exact test). The average concentration of creatinine in children of mothers after LT was 0.51 mg/dL, and the average of the control group was 0.44 mg/dL (P = .223698; Mann-Whitney test). Only 1 of 51 children in the LT group (1.96%) had an increased urea level. All children from both the LT and the control groups had normal ultrasound images of urinary tract and liver. CONCLUSION: Exposure to immunosuppressive drugs during fetal life does not result in the occurrence of serious disturbances of liver function and kidneys function in children of mothers after LT.

Neurological development of children born to liver transplant recipients.

INTRODUCTION: Immunosuppressive treatment used in pregnant liver recipients may have a negative impact on fetal development and successively a child. AIM: The aim of the study was to make a neurological assessment of infants and children born to liver transplant recipients (LTRs) born between December 4, 2001, and February 11, 2013, in the 1(st) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The study involved 88 children, of whom 44 children were born to LTR mothers, and 44 children born to women who were not organ recipients and delivered at a similar gestational age. The gestational age of neonates ranged from 33 to 41 weeks, and the birth weight ranged from 1420 g to 4100 g. The neurological examination was performed in children from 7 weeks to 10 years of age. The neurological development was assessed by a specialist in pediatric neurology. The results of the examination were divided according to the following criteria: 1) normal development, 2) slight disorders, 3) moderate disorders, and 4) severe disorders. The Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Normal development was found in 35 of 44 (79.54%) children in the LTR group and 39 of 44 (88.63%) children in the control group (P = .3827). Slight disorders were observed in 6 of 44 (13.63%) children in LTR group and 5 of 44 (11.36%) children in the control group. Moderate disorders were found only in 3 of 44 (6.81%) children in the LTR group. No severe disorders were observed in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Neurological development of children born to the liver recipients who were exposed to chronic immunosuppressive treatment in their fetal lives is the same as that of children whose mothers have not undergone organ transplantation.

[Analysis of the postnatal condition and mortality of neonates with extremely low birth weight]. / Analiza umieralnosci poporodowej, stanu pourodzeniowego oraz przyczyny zgonów noworodków z ekstremalnie niska urodzeniowa masa ciala.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the postnatal condition and mortality of neonates with extremely low birth weight. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 35 neonates delivered in the 1st Dept of Ob/Gyn. Medical University of Warsaw in the period of 1996-2000. The group was divided into two classes depending on the birth weight. There were newborns weighted 500-750 g in the first class and 751-1000 g in the second one. Newborns condition in the 1st minute of life was assessed with Apgar score. The rate of mortality up to the 7th day of life as well as the causes of deaths was analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Postnatal mortality rate of premature newborns extremely low birth weight is still very high, especially in case of newborns below 750 g. Respiratory distress syndrome and intracranial hemorrhage are the most common causes of demise of those newborns.

[Preterm deliveries of extremely low birth babies--analysis of the course of pregnancy, labour and neonatal outcome]. / Porody przedwczesne noworodków ze skrajnie niska masa urodzeniowa ciala--analiza przebiegu ciazy, porodu oraz stanu pourodzeniowego noworodka.

OBJECTIVE: Preterm delivery of baby with extremely low birth weight (ELBW) is an important problem in contemporary perinatology and a major reason of perinatal mortality. A great development of neonatal intensive care that has occurred over the last few years has resulted in the decrease of perinatal mortality rate. The aim of the study is to analyse the course of pregnancy, labour and neonatal outcome in the group of patients who delivered ELBW children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 1st Obstetric and Gynaecology Department Clinic of Medical University of Warsaw, 6982 deliveries were conducted from 1996 to 2000. Among them there were 589 preterm ones. As a result 44 women delivered ELBW children. These 44 deliveries were divided into three groups according to the reasons: Idiopathic preterm contractility-24 patients PROM with intrauterine infection or threatening infection-14 Induction of delivery because of lethal foetal defects and direct foetal distress-6. RESULTS: The most common reasons for deliveries of ELBW children were hypertension and ascending infections. CONCLUSIONS: A great number of mothers who delivered ELBW children had low socioeconomic status. In most cases pregnancy was unplanned and body mass index of the mothers was below 19. Almost all these newborns were severely depressed and delivery was often complicated. It is important to conduct labour in a careful way to avoid tissue injuries.