Prevalence and distribution of primary glomerular diseases in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Glomerulonephritis (GN) is a predominant cause of kidney failure in Africa. The prevalence of primary GNs varies widely across Africa depending on the relative proportion of secondary GNs and genetic predispositions. We assessed the overall and sub-regional prevalence of primary GN and its histologic subtypes in Africa. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and African Journals Online for studies of biopsy-proven primary GNs across all age groups in Africa published between 2010 and 2022. Data for primary GNs [minimal change disease (MCD), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), membranous nephropathy (MN), mesangioproliferative GN (MesPGN), membranoproliferative GN (MPGN), post-infectious GN (PIGN), IgA Nephropathy (IgAN), and crescentic GN (CresGN)] were extracted. Pooled prevalence was determined using the random effects model. Seventeen eligible articles (n = 6,494 individuals) from 8 African countries met the inclusion criteria. The overall pooled prevalence of FSGS, MCD, MN, MPGN, MesPGN, PIGN, IgAN and CresGN was 26.10%, 22.40%, 8.40%, 6.40%, 6.40%, 2.60%, 2.60%, 1.40%, respectively. Only 4 studies (23.5%) used light microscopy (LM), immunofluorescence (IF), and electron microscopy (EM) for diagnosis. There were significant differences in the distribution of histologic subtypes in the paediatric compared to the adult population and across geographic sub-regions, with West Africa having a higher prevalence of FSGS. Overall, the dominance of FSGS across most regions and age groups has implications for disease diagnosis and ongoing care. Research efforts to understand the impact of this trend on kidney disease outcomes and efforts to improve kidney biopsy practice as a means of early disease detection are needed in Africa.

School-based Study of the Prevalence and Associated Factors of Prediabetes Among Adolescents in Kano, Nigeria.

Background: Prediabetes and diabetes are important metabolic public health problems, especially among adolescents. However, they are being given little or no attention, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Prediabetes increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases. Objective: To determine the prevalence of prediabetes and its associated factors among adolescents in Kano, northwest, Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 650 secondary school students aged 10-19 years in Tarauni LGA of Kano state. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain the socio-demographic data and family history of diabetes of the participants. Each participant had his/her FBS and OGTT measured. Prediabetes was defined using the ISPAD criteria (FBS of 5.6-6.9mmol/L and 2HPP glucose level of 7.8-11.0mm). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were determined for the FBG test against the OGTT test. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were done to ascertain the associated factors of prediabetes. Results: There were 372 females and 278 males. The age range was 10-19 years with a mean 14.9±1.8 years. The prevalence of prediabetes using FBG was 5.5% while using OGTT was 8.9%, while 0.6% of students had combined IFG/IGT. FBG had a sensitivity of 7%, specificity of 95%, PPV of 11% and a NPV of 91%. Male gender (AOR=2.56, C.I= 1.25 - 5.23) and socioeconomic class (AOR= 3.36, C.I = 1.32 - 8.54) were found to be associated with IFG while positive family history of diabetes (AOR= 0.39, C.I = 0.18 - 0.84) was associated with IGT. Conclusion: Prediabetes is common among the study population and the sex-specific prevalence rate was higher among males. Higher socioeconomic class and a positive family history of diabetes were significant associations.

Juvenile dermatomyositis in a 14-year old Nigerian girl.

Juvenile Dermatomyositis is a rare idiopathic autoimmune and inflammatory myopathy and vasculopathy whose hallmarks are symmetrical proximal muscle weaknesses and a characteristic rash. Only few cases have been reported in West Africa subregion. We present a 14-year old Nigerian girl with clinical and histopathologic features of definitive juvenile dermatomyositis based on EULAR/ACR classification criteria but probable Juvenile dermatomyositis according to Bohan and Peter criteria. The patient had normal aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels. Creatine kinase, Lactate dehydrogenase and aldolase which are not available in our center could not be evaluated. There was remarkable clinical improvement 3 weeks after the onset of systemic corticosteroid therapy. Our case highlights that relying on these normal enzyme values, especially where muscle biopsy and EMG are not available as is the case in most centers in developing countries, would have resulted in missed diagnosis using Bohan and Peter criteria.

Gross motor developmental delay in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children under 2 years of age.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection has significant effects on child development. We report the outcome of gross motor developmental assessment in HIV-infected children <2 years compared with that of uninfected children. Materials and Methods: Every child <2 years of age presenting for the first time to the pediatric outpatient department of the hospital over 3 months was studied. Each child had a physical examination with gross motor milestone assessment, as well as initial double rapid HIV antibody tests with confirmatory tests for those with positive or discordant results. Children with evidence of motor delay were booked for reassessment after 1 month. The milestone performance criteria of the Multicenter Growth Reference Study of the World Health Organization were used as a standard. Results: One hundred and eight children were studied. Male-to-female ratio was 1:1. Fourteen children (13.0%) were HIV infected. Nine children (8.3%) had delayed development of gross motor milestones, of which five were HIV infected and four were uninfected (P = 0.001). Each motor milestone was attained at a significantly later mean age by the HIV-infected children when compared to the uninfected. Evidence of delay in gross motor milestones was apparent by the first 6 months of life. Conclusions: A tendency to poorer motor development is apparent in young children infected by HIV and can manifest as early as the first 6 months of life. Routine HIV screening as well as early developmental assessment of all children should be encouraged.

RésuméContexte: L'infection par le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine a des effets importants sur le développement de l'enfant. Nous rapportons les résultats de l'évaluation du développement moteur global chez les enfants infectés par le VIH âgés de moins de deux ans par rapport à ceux d'enfants non infectés. Matériels et Méthodes: Tous les enfants de moins de deux ans se présentant pour la première fois au service de consultations externes pédiatriques de l'hôpital pendant une période de trois mois ont été étudiés. Chaque enfant a subi un examen physique avec une évaluation des étapes motrices globales, ainsi que des tests initiaux de double anticorps anti-VIH rapides avec des tests de confirmation pour les enfants présentant des résultats positifs ou discordants. Les enfants présentant des signes de retard moteur ont été réservés pour une réévaluation après un mois. Les critères de performance repères de l'étude de référence sur la croissance multicentrique de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé ont été utilisés comme norme. Résultats: Cent huit enfants ont été étudiés. Le ratio hommes / femmes était de 1: 1. Quatorze enfants (13,0%) étaient infectés par le VIH. Neuf enfants (8,3%) présentaient un retard dans le développement des jalons moteurs, dont cinq étaient infectés par le VIH et quatre non infectés (p = 0,001). Chaque jalon moteur a été atteint à un âge significativement plus tardif par les enfants infectés par le VIH par rapport aux enfants non infectés. La preuve d'un retard dans les jalons moteurs bruts était apparente dès les six premiers mois de la vie. Conclusions: Une tendance à un développement moteur plus faible est apparente chez les jeunes enfants infectés par le VIH et peut se manifester dès les six premiers mois de la vie. Le dépistage systématique du VIH ainsi que l'évaluation précoce du développement de tous les enfants devraient être encouragés.

Salvageability of renal function following renal revascularisation in children with Takayasu's arteritis-induced renal artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Renal artery revascularisation procedures are usually carried out on children with renal artery stenosis from varied causes, including Takayasu's arteritis. Reports on the outcome of such procedures in children usually refer to the improvement in blood pressure, with only minimal mention of effects on renal function. OBJECTIVE: Salvageability of renal function in children who underwent renal revascularisation for Takayasu's arteritis-induced renal artery stenosis (TARAS) was the focus of this study. METHODS: We undertook a retrospective analysis of children aged ≤16 years with angiographically confirmed TARAS who underwent renal artery revascularisation procedures between 1990 and 2010. Outcomes of renal function were studied over a period of 2 years and were defined as: (i) improvement: >20% increase in estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) from presurgery value; (ii) stabilisation: e-GFR within 20% of presurgery value; and (iii) failure: >20% deterioration in e-GFR from presurgery value. The GFR was estimated using the Schwartz formula. RESULTS: Twenty children (9 males and 11 females, age range 2 - 14 years) had 27 renal artery revascularisation procedures. Thirteen of the patients (65.0%) had bilateral renal artery stenosis. The baseline mean e-GFR was 88.6 (standard deviation (SD) 25.4) mL/min/1.73 m2 and the mean duration of follow-up was 28.80 (SD 25.62) months. All the patients had stable or improved renal function until the 2-year follow-up, when the proportion decreased to 92.3% (12/13), as failure was recorded in one child. Bilateral revascularisation was found to be significantly associated with improvement in renal function in the early postoperative period (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Renal artery revascularisation procedures are successful in salvaging renal function in children with TARAS.