Risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: evaluation of gadolinium chelate contrast agents at four American universities.

Purpose: To retrospectively determine the benchmark incidence of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) related to the confirmed use of different gadolinium chelate contrast agents at four U.S. university tertiary care centers.

Intense pruritus and failure to thrive in Alagille syndrome.

A 4-year-old girl with failure to thrive and intense pruritus associated with Alagille syndrome is described. The clinical features of this autosomal dominant disorder are reviewed. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the severe pruritus as a manifestation of the disease.

Recurrent syncope and anaphylaxis as presentation of systemic mastocytosis in a pediatric patient: case report and literature review.

Mastocytosis refers to a rare collection of disorders, both cutaneous and systemic, that are characterized by increased numbers of mast cells. Depending on the extent of the disease, these disorders may present with symptoms resulting from mast cell degranulation including flushing, diarrhea, vomiting, cramping, syncope, or anaphylaxis. In pediatric patients, cutaneous involvement is most prevalent in the form of urticaria pigmentosa, which is typically asymptomatic or minimally so with resolution by adolescence.