Publications by authors named "Eujin Park"
Background: Hypertension is one of the most important complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) as it exacerbates disease progression in children. The aim of this study is to identify characteristics and factors associated with hypertension in children with CKD.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study using baseline data from the 10-year ongoing cohort study named KNOW-PedCKD (Korean Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients with Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease).
To treat or not to treat: CUBN-associated persistent proteinuria.
Kidney Res Clin Pract
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- - Researchers studied Korean patients with CUBN gene variants linked to persistent proteinuria, which is often linked to kidney damage, but in this case, it appears benign and stable.
- - All identified patients were young, diagnosed around 5 years old, and exhibited isolated proteinuria with no significant health issues or progression to chronic kidney disease over time.
- - The findings support the notion that CUBN-related proteinuria is generally non-threatening, suggesting that physicians should consider this diagnosis in asymptomatic young children presenting with isolated proteinuria.
Article Synopsis
- Maternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy can lead to kidney damage in both mother rats and their offspring, evidenced by increased glomerular damage and inflammation.
- Administration of vitamin D alongside PM2.5 showed protective effects, reducing damage markers in both mothers and pups.
- The study highlights that maternal vitamin D intake might help mitigate the negative renal effects of PM2.5 exposure, suggesting a potential intervention for improving kidney health across generations.
Article Synopsis
- Hematuria, or blood in urine, is often observed in school-aged children, but there are no established international guidelines for dealing with asymptomatic cases.
- Recognizing the need for practical and evidence-based guidance, the Korean Society of Pediatric Nephrology has created clinical guidelines tailored for the diagnosis and management of this condition.
- These guidelines are designed to consider real-world practice, as well as the values and preferences of both patients and healthcare providers.
Increasing trend in hypertension prevalence among Korean adolescents from 2007 to 2020.
BMC Public Health
February 2024
Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of hypertension in Korean adolescents, its long-term trends, and factors associated with the development of hypertension.
Methods: Data of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2007 to 2020 were combined into three time periods (2007-2011, 2012-2016, and 2017-2020). A total of 11,146 Korean adolescents aged 10-18 were included in the analysis.
Background: The natural course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in children varies according to their underlying conditions. This study aims to identify different patterns of subsequent decline in kidney function and investigate factors associated with different patterns of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) trajectories.
Methods: We analyzed data from the KNOW-Ped CKD (KoreaN cohort study for Outcomes in patients With Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease), which is a longitudinal, prospective cohort study.
Article Synopsis
- This study focused on childhood-onset lupus nephritis (LN), examining the clinical features, kidney outcomes, and risk factors related to prognosis in 216 patients across South Korea.
- Most patients presented with nephrotic syndrome or hematuria, and the most common kidney damage was WHO class IV LN, with nearly 15% developing advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) after an average follow-up of about 8 years.
- Key risk factors identified for advanced CKD included being male and not achieving remission within the first year of treatment, indicating the need for careful monitoring of these patients to improve their long-term outcomes.
Baseline characteristics of the Korean genetic cohort of inherited cystic kidney disease.
Kidney Res Clin Pract
September 2023
Article Synopsis
- - The study focused on understanding genetic mutations linked to inherited cystic kidney disease in the Korean population over three years, involving 725 adult patients from eight hospitals.
- - Results showed that 77.2% of patients had typical autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) while 22.8% had atypical PKD; genetic analysis revealed pathogenic variants in 64.3% of participants.
- - The findings provided important baseline clinical data for cystic kidney disease, highlighting differences in mutation detection rates between typical and atypical PKD groups.
Background: Dyslipidemia can cause cardiovascular disease and increase the fatality rate among children with chronic kidney disease (CKD); this makes early screening and treatment of dyslipidemia crucial. This study aimed to assess the association between the changes in serum total cholesterol levels over time and the degree of CKD progression in children.
Methods: From April 2011 to August 2021, 379 of the 432 participants enrolled in the KoreaN cohort study for Outcomes in patients With Pediatric CKD (KNOW-PedCKD) were included and divided into 4 categories based on total cholesterol levels (< 170 mg/dL, acceptable; 170-199, borderline; 200-239, high; and ≥ 240, very high).
Article Synopsis
- X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is a condition that causes low phosphate levels, leading to rickets, affecting about 1 in 20,000 people.
- Traditional treatments using oral phosphate and vitamin D have limitations, resulting in incomplete healing and potential side effects.
- A new targeted therapy called burosumab, which inhibits fibroblast growth factor-23, has been approved in Korea and offers hope for better management of XLH by addressing its underlying cause.
Article Synopsis
- Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are prone to mineral bone disorder (MBD), which can cause serious health issues like fractures and growth problems, and this study aimed to investigate these conditions in Korean pediatric patients.
- The research analyzed data from 431 children with CKD, measuring various factors related to MBD, including calcium, phosphate, vitamin D levels, and bone density across different stages of CKD.
- Findings showed that abnormalities in mineral metabolism significantly increased as CKD progressed, with higher rates of hyperphosphatemia and hyperparathyroidism, and increased use of medications aimed at managing these issues in advanced stages of the disease.
Background: We developed the KoreaN cohort study for Outcomes in patients With Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-Ped CKD) as a subcohort of KNOW-CKD to investigate the different characteristics of pediatric CKD between countries and races.
Methods: Children aged younger than 18 years with stage 1 ~ 5 CKD were recruited at seven major pediatric nephrology centers in Korea. Blood and urine samples, as well as demographic and clinical data, were collected.
Article Synopsis
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD) negatively impacts growth and cognitive function in children and adolescents, prompting a study to explore intelligence levels and risk factors among this population.
- In the study involving 81 CKD patients under 18, the average IQ was 91, with 24.7% scoring below 80; factors like short stature, severe CKD stages, and longer illness duration correlated with lower IQs.
- Findings suggest a need for further investigation into cognitive impairment related to growth issues in pediatric CKD patients, with early interventions potentially improving IQ outcomes through treatments like kidney transplantation.
Background: Preserving optimal growth has long been a significant concern for children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We aimed to examine the incidence of and risk factors for short stature in Asian pediatric patients with CKD.
Methods: We analyzed growth status by height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) standard deviation scores (SDSs) for 432 participants in the KoreaN cohort study for Outcome in patients With Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on inherited cystic kidney disease, which involves renal cysts formed due to genetic mutations, and aims to create a patient cohort in Korea to better understand these disorders.
- Over three years, the researchers plan to recruit 800 patients with specific eligibility criteria, gathering comprehensive medical and genetic data to identify pathogenic mutations and analyze how these affect disease severity.
- This pioneering research will provide insights into the clinical features and genetic basis of inherited cystic kidney disease in the Korean population, contributing to a better understanding of these conditions.
Article Synopsis
- Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease in children, primarily linked to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS), with over 50 genetic causes identified.
- In a study of 291 Korean pediatric patients, the mutation detection rate for SRNS/FSGS was 43.6%, with the most common causative gene accounting for 23.6% of cases.
- Higher mutation rates were found in patients with congenital onset or who were untreated with steroids, highlighting the importance of genetic diagnosis for treatment decisions and prognosis, indicating a need for further research in genotype-phenotype correlations.
Background: Pediatric as well as adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are susceptible to cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, which increase their mortality. Dyslipidemia is thought to be one of the most important contributing risk factors for developing CVD. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of dyslipidemia and assess clinical and laboratory risk factors associated with dyslipidemia in East Asian pediatric patients with CKD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCongenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are the most common cause of chronic kidney disease in children. The search for genetic causes of CAKUT has led to genetic diagnosis in approximately 5-20 % of CAKUT patients from Western countries. In this study, genetic causes of CAKUT in Korean children were sought using targeted exome sequencing (TES) of 60 genes reported to cause CAKUT in human or murine models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAcute kidney injury associated with infection: Forgotten but not gone.
Kidney Res Clin Pract
September 2019
Article Synopsis
- The study discusses a resurgence of kidney-related issues, specifically acute kidney injury (AKI), linked to infections previously thought to be nearly eradicated due to improved public health, often resulting from contaminated food or water.
- Researchers collected and analyzed medical records from nine patients admitted to Seoul National University Children's Hospital in 2017, all showing symptoms like fever and gastrointestinal distress, with many having a common history of drinking mountain water.
- The findings indicate that this infection can lead to serious complications like AKI and highlight the need for clinicians to consider this diagnosis in patients with prolonged fever, gastroenteritis, and non-resolving AKI.
Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is one of the major complications of organ transplantation, especially in children with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viremia (EV). We performed a retrospective study to evaluate risk factors for PTLD in children with EV.
Methods: Among 199 pediatric kidney transplantation (KT) recipients at our center from January 2001 to October 2015, records of those with EBV viral loads of > 1,000 copies/mL and/or PTLD were reviewed.
Article Synopsis
- Extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria are a growing cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children under 2 years old, with 17.3% of cases linked to these bacteria.
- Key risk factors for ESBL UTIs include a history of previous UTIs, recent antibiotic use, hospitalization in the past 3 months, and underlying urinary issues.
- Relapse rates after treatment were low (<3%) for both ESBL and non-ESBL groups, suggesting that empirically using effective antibiotics may be viable, though more research is needed to support these findings.