Automated complete blood counter, urine analyzer and urine dipstick test results are correlated with thoma cell counting chamber counts in the diagnosis of dialysis related peritonitis in children.

INTRODUCTION: Peritoneal dialysis is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. Peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis is of great importance for patient and technical survival. The aim of our study was to evaluate the accuracy and the correlation between the three methods (complete blood count, urinalysis device, urine dipstick test) and with the reference manual method (Thoma Cell Counter Chamber). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 167 peritoneal fluid samples taken from 25 patients receiving peritoneal dialysis treatment. Leukocyte counts were evaluated with Thoma Cell Counter Chamber, complete blood count, urinalysis device and urine dipstick test. RESULTS: There was a significant positive correlation between Thoma Cell Counter Chamber and complete blood count results (Spearman's rho=0.70), between Thoma Cell Counter Chamber and urinalysis device (Spearman's rho=0.73), and between Thoma Cell Counter Chamber and urine dipstick test (Spearman's rho=0.71). Area under curve for complete blood count, urinalysis device and urine dipstick test were 0.93, 0.94 and 0.89 respectively, indicating good accuracy. Sensitivity and specificity were 89.7% and 86.7% in the complete blood count analysis (associated criterion: 130 cells/mm3). Sensitivity and specificity were 89.7% and 86.7% in the urinalysis device (associated criterion: 10 cells/HPF). Sensitivity and specificity were 79.6% and 91.4% when in the urine dipstick test analysis (associated criterion: +1 positivity). The Bland-Altman plot showed good agreement. CONCLUSION: Automatic complete blood count and urinalysis devices have good correlation and agreement with manual method in the diagnosis of peritonitis in the pediatric age group. Urine dipstick test in the home setting can be useful for screening patients with suspected peritonitis.

Are we late for the diagnosis of acute kidney injury in the intensive care units in pediatric patients? A preliminary, retrospective observational study among 66 patients.

BACKGROUND: The purposes of this study were to emphasize the importance of Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, and End-Stage (RIFLE) classification in early diagnose and prognosis of acute kidney injury (AKI), and to evaluate the practicability of the RIFLE criteria in intensive care units. METHODS: Sixty-six patients applied acute peritoneal dialysis were included into the study. Patients having acute peritoneal dialysis within the first 24 hours of intensive care unit admission were named group 1, between 24-48 hours group 2, and those who had acute peritoneal dialysis 48 hours or more after admission to the intensive care unit were named group 3. Retrospectively, we evaluated patients by RIFLE criteria at the consultation time, and patients who had been just in AKI were called late referral patients. The mean interval time between the onset of AKI and the consultation time was defined as delay time in late referral patients. RESULTS: There were 20 patients in group 1, 15 were in group 2 and 31 in group 3. In total there were 18/66 patients in risk, 13/66 in injury while 35/66 in failure. There was statistically difference between delay times of in risk and failure class in group 3 (P<0.05). Also delayed patient numbers of both risk and failure class were found statistically highly significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the patients were in failure class at the time of consultation. We guess that if they would have been diagnosed earlier, prognosis might have been better. Therefore early diagnosis of AKI with RIFLE criteria and early initiation of acute peritoneal dialysis would probably improve prognosis.

Comparison of Pattern Electroretinography and Optical Coherence Tomography Parameters in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the correlation of visual field (VF), pattern electroretinography (PERG) and Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) results in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) and early primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 72 eyes of 37 patients with early POAG, 76 eyes of 38 patients with OHT, and 60 eyes of 30 controls. All subjects underwent full ophthalmologic examination, VF assessment with 24-2 Humphrey standard automated perimetry (Swedish Interactive Thresholding Algorithm (SITA)-Standard), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness measurement with FD-OCT, and PERG P50 and N95 wave latency and amplitude measurements with electroretinography (Nihon Kohden). RESULTS: With the exception of the nasal quadrant, all GCC parameters and RNFL results were significantly lower in the POAG group compared to the OHT and control groups. There was no statistically significant difference between the OHT and control group. PERG amplitudes were lower in the POAG and OHT groups than in the control group. Reduction in N95 amplitude was greater than that of P50 amplitude. No difference was detected in PERG latencies among groups. GCC was significantly correlated with VF and RNFL in the POAG group. CONCLUSION: Significant thinning of the GCC and RNFL occurs in addition to VF pathologies in patients with early POAG, and these examinations should be concomitantly evaluated. During diagnostic assessment of patients with early POAG, GCC and RNFL analysis by FD-OCT are highly effective. GCC is as reliable as RNLF in the early diagnosis of glaucoma and there is a highly significant correlation between them. Dysfunction of ganglion cells in patients with OHT may be detected earlier using PERG amplitude analysis.

Success of continuous veno-venous hemodiafiltration treatment in children monitored in the intensive care units.

INTRODUCTION: As intensive care units (ICU) have improved, presence of multiple-organ dysfunctions in majority of patients with acute renal failure (ARF) has become clearer. To facilitate multi-organ support, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) techniques have been developed. This study is the one that reports the experience on children including newborns receiving CRRT monitored in ICU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed retrospectively in children who had Continuous Veno- Venous Hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF) as a CRRT modality in ICU. Clinical data, primary cause, consultation time, duration and initiation time of CVVHDF were recorded. Patients were classified as cardiac and non-cardiac in respect to primary dysfunction. Stage of renal failure was evaluated according to pRIFLE criteria. Outcome was identified as primary and secondary. Primary outcome was accepted as the composite correction of uremia and metabolic parameters, and regression of fluid overload, while secondary outcomes were assessed as improvement of hemodynamic instability and survival. RESULTS: A total of 36 patients' files were scanned. There were 10 cases in cardiac group and 26 cases in non-cardiac group. There were statistically better differences between primary and secondary outcome rates of cardiac cases. Although there was no difference between cardiac and non-cardiac cases in terms of primary outcome, secondary outcome was statistically significant. Timing of consultation and CVVHDF was not found to have an effect on the outcome. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that CVVHDF treatment was successful even in cardiac patients with high mortality and in patients at their later stage of ARF.

A single-center experience on percutaneously performed partial omentectomy in pediatric peritoneal dialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes a single-center experience on percutaneously performed partial omentectomy procedure in pediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients who showed early catheter dysfunction and required catheter replacement due to catheter flow obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of clinical outcomes from pediatric PD patients who underwent percutaneous catheter replacement by pediatric nephrologists between November 1995 and December 2012. Partial omentectomy was performed in those patients in whom omental or adhesion trapping to the catheter tip was seen. RESULTS: During the study period, catheter dysfunction that eventually required percutaneous catheter replacement occurred in 32 (23.7%) children. Of these, 9 patients were performed partial omentectomy. Mean age at initiation of PD and time of omentectomy was 97.48 ± 46.06 and 98.53 ± 45.55 months, respectively. Catheter dysfunction appeared after a mean 1.20 ± 1.0 months. The causes of catheter dysfunction were omental wrapping and malposition. No peritonitis occurred before omentectomy. Mean total operation time was 60 ± 8.83 min. No complications were encountered during the procedure. After omentectomy, mean catheter survival period was 5.92 ± 6.88 months. A total of five peritonitis episodes occurred. Three patients were transferred to hemodialysis. Six patients were on PD treatment without any problem at the end of the first year of their follow-up. Two patients underwent kidney transplantation. Four patients were still on chronic PD treatment at the end of the study period. CONCLUSION: When performed by an experienced nephrologist, the performance of partial omentectomy by percutaneous route, when required, is an easy, safe and efficient therapeutic procedure in children on chronic PD treatment.

Efficacy of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in a young woman with idiopathic branch retinal artery occlusion.

We present a case of branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) in a healthy 20-year-old woman with no history of ocular or systemic diseases or drug use. She presented with a sudden decrease in visual acuity associated with a visual field defect of the right eye, which she had first noticed 4 hours earlier. Examination showed a BRAO with oedema at the upper part of the macula and surrounding area, and confirmed on fluorescein angiography. The left eye was normal. She was sent immediately for hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) and received 10 sessions (over 20 days) of 2 hours each at a pressure of 253 kPa. Follow up at four months showed a normal fundus, and visual acuity of 20/25. Visual field and fundoscopy were normal. Investigations for a cause of the BRAO proved negative. Retinal artery occlusion is rare in young people, and early application of HBOT in patients with RAO appears to improve outcome.

A retrospective analysis of long-term graft survival in 61 pediatric renal transplant recipients: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Although short-term renal allograft survival in children has improved over the years, long-term graft outcomes remain unclear. In this study we report the characteristics and other variables that impact long-term kidney graft survival in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Records of 61 pediatric kidney transplant recipients (mean age: 14±3 years) performed at our institution between 1995 and 2011 were evaluated. Patients were divided into 2 groups (functional and non-functional grafts) to investigate the factors that impact graft survival. The groups were compared in terms of recipient characteristics, underlying disease, HLA status, immunosuppressive therapy, donor characteristics, acute rejection, and delayed graft function (DGF). Statistical significance was detected with the t and chi-squared tests (Pearson and Fisher's exact tests). Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed for graft survival. RESULTS: Overall graft survival at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years were 93%, 66%, 46%, and 41%, respectively. The median graft survival was 128.4 months (range: 3-188 months). Donor age, acute rejection, and DGF strongly predicted the chance of graft survival (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It appears that several modifiable risk factors can partially account for poorer graft survival in pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

Effect of Bevacizumab Injection before Vitrectomy on Intravitreal Hemorrhage in Pseudophakic Patients with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy.

We evaluated the effect of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) injection before pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on intravitreal hemorrhage (VH) during and after vitrectomy for postoperative the first day and the first month in pseudophakic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). This retrospective study was performed on 44 eyes of 44 patients who underwent vitrectomy for PDR. Patients were divided into PPV (n = 22 eyes) and PPV + IVB (n = 22 eyes) groups. Injection of bevacizumab (1.25 mg/0.05 mL) was performed 3 days before vitrectomy. Outcomes of visual acuity as well as intraoperative and postoperative VH were compared between the two groups. One month after surgery, visual acuity improved in PPV and PPV + IVB groups (P = 0.005, P = 0.006), respectively. There was no difference between the two groups in best corrected visual acuity at baseline and after vitrectomy (P = 0.71). Intraoperative bleeding into the vitreous was recorded in 14 (63.6%) cases in the PPV group and in 7 (31.8%) cases in the PPV + IVB group. The first month, intravitreal hemorrhage was recorded in six patients in the PPV group and in two patients in the PPV + IVB group (P = 0.03). The mean pre-postoperative central macular thickness was similar in both groups. Intravitreal injection of IVB before vitrectomy decreased the rate of VH at the time of surgery and at the first postoperative month in patients with PDR.

Chronic peritoneal dialysis in children with special needs or social disadvantage or both: contraindications are not always contraindications.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim in the present study was to identify outcomes in children with special needs or social disadvantage, or both, receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) treatment in a pediatric dialysis unit. METHODS: Among 110 children started on CPD in our unit during the period between November 1995 and November 2008, we identified 13 patients (8 girls, 5 boys) with major physical, mental, or psychosocial problems. Age at CPD initiation in the group with disability ranged from 4.0 years to 16.5 years (median: 7.5 years). Under lying diseases were vesicoureteral reflux (4 patients), neuropathic bladder and vesicoureteral reflux (3 patients), chronic pyelonephritis (3 patients), amyloidosis (2 patients), and Alport syndrome (1 patient). Challenges encountered were adverse family or social circumstances (4 patients), cerebral palsy (3 patients), Down syndrome (1 patient), rectovesical fistula in conjunction with ectopic anus and previous multiple abdominal surgery (1 patient), blindness and deafness (1 patient), ventriculoperitoneal shunt (1 patient), colostomy and malnutrition (1 patient), and mental retardation and blindness (1 patient). All catheters were implanted percutaneously. RESULTS: Median duration of dialysis was 18 months (range: 6 - 124 months). The frequency of peritonitis was not different between children with and without disability (p > 0.05). In children with disability compared with children without disability, the frequencies of catheter-related infections (1 episode/79.3 patient-months vs 1 episode/32.4 patient-months) and of catheter-related non-infectious complications (1 episode/238 patient-months vs 1 episode/115.7 patient-months) were lower (p < 0.05). Chronic peritoneal dialysis was terminated in 5 children (for renal transplantation in 3, switch to hemodialysis in 1, death in 1). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that, with appropriate family support and an experienced multidisciplinary team, CPD can be effectively performed in children with special needs or social disadvantage, or both.

The comparison of exit-site care with normal saline and povidone-iodine in preventing exit-site infection and peritonitis in children on chronic peritoneal dialysis treatment.

Peritonitis and catheter exit- site infections (ESI) are important causes of hospitalization and catheter loss in patients undergoing chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD). The frequency of infection can be reduced by scrupulous exit- site care with or without topical antiseptics. There are no studies showing any benefit in the use of povidone-iodine or normal saline for care of exit- sites in long- term CPD patients. In this study, we aimed to determine the potential effectiveness of the application of povidone-iodine or normal saline at the catheter exit- site in preventing ESI and peritonitis in children on CPD. A total of 98 patients treated with either povidone-iodine or normal saline were included in this study. Group I (34 patients) used povidone-iodine and group II (64 patients) simply cleansed the exit- site with normal saline (0.9% NaCl). Dressings were changed 2 to 3 times in a week. The total cumulative follow- up time was 3233 patient- months. ESIs occurred in 10 (29.4%) of 34 patients using povidone-iodine and in 10 (15.6%) of 64 patients using normal saline. The frequency of ESI was significantly high in group I (povidone-iodine) patients. The mean rate of ESI was 1 episode/60.8 patient- months for group I versus 1 episode/144 patient- months for group II (P < 0.05). The rate of peritonitis was similar in each group (1 episode/21.3 patient- months for group I versus 1 episode/20.17 patient- months for group II) (P > 0.05). In conclusion, exit- site care with normal saline is an effective strategy in reducing the incidence of ESI in children on CPD. It can thus significantly reduce morbidity, catheter loss, and the need to transfer patients on peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis.

Growth impairment and nutritional status in children with chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: Malnutrition is closely linked to chronic kidney disease (CKD) in adult patients with poor outcome. But data on pediatric patients is inadequate. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of growth failure and malnutrition in pediatric CKD patients and explore the relationship of these parameters to each other and to other clinical parameters. METHODS: This study included 42 patients and 29 healthy children matched for age and gender. Patients were classified firstly in age group and secondly in therapy modalities. Nutritional evaluations were performed according to the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative guidelines, and we performed adjustments using values from children with the same chronological age as reference. FINDINGS: In pubertal group, the mean height SDS was lower than in pre-pubertal period while it was higher than in early childhood (P=0.4 and P=0.03 respectively). In all groups, 45% of patients had malnutrition: 20 patients on predialysis, 22 patients with end stage renal disease (14 on hemodialysis, and 8 on peritoneal dialysis). The mean weight SDS was lower in end stage renal disease groups (P<0.001). The height SDS was lower in end stage renal disease groups (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Growth failure and malnutrition remain a significant clinical problem as age and therapy modalities are dependent in children with CKD.

When does the cardiovascular disease appear in patients with chronic kidney disease?

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of long-term morbidity and mortality among children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). At which stage of CKD these appear in children is unknown. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in pediatric CKD patients and to explore the relationship of these changes and treatment methods. The study enrolled pediatric patients with stages 1-5 CKD including 20 patients receiving predialysis (PreD), 8 receiving peritoneal dialysis, and 14 receiving hemodialysis. Aortic stiffness, defined as decreased aortic strain (S) and increased pressure strain normalized by diastolic pressure (Ep*), was described. Sonography of the common carotid artery and left ventricle was performed. The mean age of the children was 13.3 + or - 5.3 years. The patients had lower S values (0.35 + or - 0.23) than the control subjects (0.44 + or - 0.2) (P < 0.05) but higher Ep* (2.46 + or - 1.31 vs. 1.32 + or - 0.09; P < 0.05). Aortic stiffness was found in 13 patients. The PreD group had lower As levels than the dialysis group but higher levels than the control group. The patients (n = 32) had greater carotid intima-media thickness than the control subjects (0.58 + or - 0.14 vs. 0.35 + or - 0.12; P < 0.05). The intima-media thickness was greatest in the PreD group (P < 0.05). The patients had a higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI; 42.4 + or - 15.6) than the control subjects (28.8 + or - 8.47) (P < 0.05) and a larger left ventricle end diastolic diameter (LVEDD; 3.44 + or - 0.76 vs. 2.59 + or - 0.34; P < 0.05). Left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 32 patients. Both LVMI and LVEDD were higher in the groups receiving hemodialysis and lower in the PreD group. Increased carotid-intima media thickness and left ventricle hypertrophy appeared without hypertension in the PreD group. The indications and timing of dialysis should be reevaluated for children with CKD. In the dialysis groups, fewer cardiovascular changes were found with peritoneal dialysis than with hemodialysis. Therefore, peritoneal dialysis should be preferable to hemodialysis for children with CKD.

Impact of peritoneal transport characteristics on cardiac function in paediatric peritoneal dialysis patients: a Turkish Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Study Group (TUPEPD) report.

BACKGROUND: The peritoneal equilibration test (PET) is recommended in paediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients to assist prescription management. Despite contradictory reports, high transporter status is associated with reduced survival rate in adults. Since cardiac disease is one of the main causes of mortality in paediatric PD patients, we aimed to evaluate whether transport features have any effect on biochemical data and cardiac function in this group. METHODS: One hundred and ten PD patients (13 +/- 5 years, PD vintage: 31 +/- 27 months) were enrolled into the study. Four-hour dialysate/plasma creatinine ratio was used for differentiating PET groups. Thirty-eight patients were high transporters, 29 were high-average transporters and 43 were low-average/low transporters. Echocardiography was performed in all subjects. RESULTS: Age, PD vintage, dialysate glucose concentration, ultrafiltration volume, urine volume and blood pressure levels were similar in all PET groups. No biochemical or echocardiographic data (ejection fraction, fractional shortening, left ventricular mass index, myocardial performance index, power Doppler E/tissue Doppler E ratio reflecting diastolic function) were different among PET groups except lower albumin (P = 0.025) levels in high transporters and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (P = 0.026) levels in high and high-average transporters compared to other transport groups. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac structural and functional abnormalities are highly prevalent among paediatric PD patients. Transport rates did not have a significant effect on biochemical parameters or cardiac structural/functional parameters. It might be suggested that being a high transporter does not provide a disadvantage in terms of atherogenic tendency and cardiac disease in paediatric PD patients. Oligoanuria, anaemia and hypertension were independent predictors of cardiac disease.

Significance of Postnatal Follow-up of Infants with Vesicoureteral Reflux Having Antenatal Hydronephrosis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and degree of renal parenchymal damage as well as the parameters of growth, development and nutritional status in antenatal hydronephrosis cases with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). METHODS: Infants, whose antenatal ultrasonography (US) showed a fetal renal pelvic diameter of 5 mm or greater were investigated. Of the 277 infants with antenatal HN, 36 [56 renal units (RUs)] were diagnosed with VUR. All cases with VUR were evaluated in terms of the frequency of UTIs, scars appearing on (99m)Technetium-dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (DMSA), growth and development [height and weight standard deviation scores (HSDS and WSDS)], and nutritional status [relative weight (RW)]. Statistical evaluation was performed using the Chi-squared test. FINDINGS: Of these 36 patients with VUR, 25 (69.4%) were males and 11 (30.6%) females. Of the 56 RUs, 48 (85.7%) had severe VUR (≥ Grade III). The mean duration of postnatal follow-up was 37.8±24.50 months. The annual UTI frequency was found to be 1.25±0.83 episodes/year. Of these 36 infants, 32 (88.8%) recovered from VUR following either medical (17 patients, 47.2%) or surgical (15 patients, 41.6%) treatment. The initial DMSA showed parenchymal defects in 16 (44.4%) RUs, and 4 RUs showed recovery in the final DMSA. Although statistically insignificant (P>0.05), initial growth and development (HSDS: -0.17±0.86; WSDS: 0.00±0.14) and nutritional status (RW: 98.19±8.81) values gradually improved (0.05±1.06, 0.06±1.071 and 101.97±14.85, respectively). CONCLUSION: Postnatal early diagnosis and appropriate management of VUR in infants with antenatal hydronephrosis can prevent the occurrence of frequent UTIs, renal scarring and malnutrition, enabling normal growth and development.

Postnatal assessment of growth, nutrition, and urinary tract infections of infants with antenatally detected hydronephrosis.

The widespread utilization of prenatal ultrasonography and the detection of antenatal hydronephrosis (AH) have raised the importance of postnatal follow-up of these infants. In this study, we aimed to determine the importance of an early diagnosis for the treatment of urinary tract malformations (UTM) as well as the postnatal evaluation of growth and nutrition status and the frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI) in infants with AH. We evaluated 246 infants (183 boys, 63 girls) whose routine antenatal scans showed an anterior-posterior pelvic diameter (APPD) ≥5 mm. Of the 246 patients, 175 (71.1%) were found to be pathological and 71 were evaluated as normal after the follow-up period. The median follow-up periods of normal and abnormal cases were 45.7 and 43.4 months, respectively. All cases with or without UTM were evaluated in terms of UTI, scars on DMSA, growth [Height Z score (HZ), Weight Z score (WZ)] and nutrition [Weight height index (WHI)] status. The annual UTI frequency was higher in cases with UTM (1.32 ± 1.66 episode/year) than in cases without abnormality (0.27 ± 0.67 episode/year) (P < 0.001). The postnatal evaluation of growth and nutritional status in children with UTM (mean WHI, HZ, and WZ scores: 96.82 ± 10.21, 0.03 ± 0.54 and 0.04 ± 0.61, respectively) was found to be significantly worse than in cases without abnormality (102.25 ± 9.84, 0.14 ± 0.64 and 0.24 ± 0.76, respectively), (P < 0.05). In abnormal patients, the mean WHI, HZ, and WZ were significantly improved to 101.63 ± 9.75, 0.26 ± 1.07, and 0.28 ± 0.98, respectively, and HZ or WZ scores were found to be similar when compared to normals. In conclusion, postnatal early management of infants with AH seems to prevent frequent UTIs and nutritional disturbances enabling normal growth.

Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis in a child with Henoch-Schönlein Vasculitis and familial Mediterranean fever.

Henoch-Schonlein Vasculitis (HSV) is systemic small vessel vasculitis involving the skin, kidney, joints, and gastrointestinal tract. The proportion of patients reported to have renal involvement varies between 20% and 80%. Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN)is rare syndrome in children, characterized by clinical features of glomerulonephritis (GN) and rapid loss of renal function. We present a severe kidney involvement in a 14 year old boy with HSV in who is carring MEFV mutation. A 14 year old boy had developed sudden onset of palpable purpuric rash on his extensor surfaces of lower extremities. He had elevated an erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (45 mm/h), C-reactive protein (3.74 mg/dl), serum urea 66 mg/dl, serum creatinine 1.8 mg/dl. Also, he had hypocomplementemia. Antinuclear antibody, anti ds DNA, antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody, anticardiolipine antibodies were negative. Urinalysis revealed macroscopic hematuria and proteinuria with a 24-h urinary protein excretion of 55 mg/m2/h. The renal biopsy specimen showed crescentic and necrotizing glomerulonephritis. He had also M694V/E148Q compound heterozygote mutation. Clinical symptoms and renal failure resolved with intermittant hemodialysis and medical therapy.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura in children from western Turkey: a retrospective analysis of 430 cases.

The medical records of children discharged with a diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) between January 1996 and March 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. The patient population consisted of 430 children (225 boys, mean age: 7.9 +/- 2.9 years; range: 2-14 years). At onset, purpura was present in all cases, arthritis/arthralgias in 195 (45.3%), abdominal involvement in 148 (34.4%), and renal involvement in 192 (44.7%). Purpura manifested after 24 hours of admittance in 64 patients (14.9%) (atypical cases). Multivariate analysis showed that female sex, atypical presentation and early corticosteroid treatment increased the risk of renal involvement (p<0.05). Recurrences, occurring in 22 (5.2%) patients, were correlated with early corticosteroid treatment (p < 0.05). After a mean 17.3 +/- 2.9 months of follow-up, no patient had renal insufficiency. Female sex, atypical presentation and early corticosteroid treatment were considered to increase the risk of developing renal involvement, and relapses occurred more frequently in children treated with corticosteroid. Our study confirmed that HSP is generally a benign disease in children from western Turkey.

Evaluation of aortic stiffness in children with chronic renal failure.

The measurement of aortic stiffness (As) [aortic strain (S), pressure strain elastic modulus (Ep) and pressure strain normalized by diastolic pressure (Ep*)] is suggested as an excellent marker of subclinical arterial sclerosis. We aimed to investigate the presence of As and to determine the relationship between As and some risk factors in children with chronic renal failure (CRF). Twenty-six pre-dialysis (PreD) [female/male (F/M) 7/19] patients and 23 chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) (F/M 13/10) patients were assessed. Twenty-nine healthy children were selected as a control group (F/M 14/15). We determined anemia, abnormal calcium/phosphate metabolism, hypertension, diastolic dysfunction, increased left ventricular mass (LVM), hypertriglyceridemia, increased stiffness (Ep, Ep*), and decreased strain (S) in the CRF (PreD and CPD) group compared with the controls (P < 0.05). Presence of renal disease, LVM and usage of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) in all groups; female gender, duration of disease and the usage of anti-hypertensive drug therapy in CRF patients; and LVM and LVM index in healthy children were found to be independent predictors for aortic stiffness and/or strain. In conclusion, CRF is associated with significant arterial functional abnormalities in uremic children and not controlled by dialysis treatment. These results suggest that, even in young children, uremia has a profound impact on arterial function.

A ten-year single-centre experience in children on chronic peritoneal dialysis--significance of percutaneous placement of peritoneal dialysis catheters.

BACKGROUND: Chronic peritoneal dialysis (CPD) in children is an important modality of renal replacement therapy. The ideal method for inserting CPD catheters remains still controversial. Minimal invasive techniques are becoming more popular. This study was performed in order to evaluate the efficiency, the complication profile and the survey of percutaneously placed CPD catheters in children, retrospectively. METHODS: This study was carried out on 108 peritoneal catheters implanted in 93 patients (45 girls, 48 boys), aged 8.0+/-4.2 years (range: 3 months to 16 years) during the period between December 1995 and November 2005. In the study group, 32 children were transplanted, 15 were transferred to haemodialysis and 18 patients died. All catheters implanted by percutaneous route were Tenckhoff swan-neck double-cuff paediatric catheters. Placement procedure was performed in our unit by us. Statistical analysis was made by chi-square and Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS: During 2670 CPD months we observed a total of 108 catheter-related complications: 82 catheter infections including exit-site and/or tunnel infection (1/32.5 patient-months), 10 dislocations, six drainage problems and six kinks. The incidence of all complications was one complication every 24.72 dialysis months. Overall, the incidence of peritonitis was one episode per 18.1 patient-months. Pseudomonas spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were the two most common causes of infections. Fifteen catheters were removed due to catheter-related causes: drainage problems (six patients), catheter dislocation (three patients), omental capture (two patients) kink (two patients) and tunnel infection (two patients). The catheter survival rate was 92.4% at 1 year, 83% at 2 years and 63% at 10 years; patient survival in the 93 children was 91% at 1 year, 84% at 2 years and 48% at 10 years. Younger patients were at increased risk of exit-site and tunnel infections (P<0.05) but the difference in catheter survival time between the age groups was not significant (P>0.05). In complications, no statistical difference was observed between early and delayed catheter use groups (P>0.05). We compared the two periods (period 1, December 1995 to November 2000; period 2, December 2000 to November 2005), for complications of CPD. The risk of catheter migration was greater in period 1 than in period 2 (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The percutaneous technique performed by experienced nephrologists is a reliable, safe and cost-effective method for placement of PD catheters. In our opinion, the skill for CPD catheter placement must be part of the paediatric nephrologist training.