Latex allergy in pediatric surgery is dependent on repeated operations in the first year of life.

Background/purpose: Patients with spina bifida represent the highest risk group for hypersensitivity to latex. Recognized risk factors for these patients are repeated surgery and an atopic disposition. Little is known about children operated on in the first year of life for reasons other than spina bifida.

Impact of apolipoprotein(a) phenotypes on long-term renal transplant survival.

The long-term success of renal transplantation is limited because of chronic rejection (CR), which shows histologic parallels to atherosclerosis. Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, but its role in CR has not been investigated. Plasma levels of Lp(a) are determined mainly by the inherited isoform (phenotype) of apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] and show an inverse correlation with the molecular weight of apo(a).

Long-term treatment with growth hormone has no persisting effect on lipoprotein(a) in patients with Turner's syndrome.

Treatment with recombinant human GH (rhGH), alone or in combination with the anabolic steroid oxandrolone (OX), has been recommended for girls with Turner's syndrome to improve final height. Several cardiovascular risk factors have been described in patients with Turner's syndrome, but the effect of therapy with rhGH and OX on lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has not been investigated. Lp(a) serum levels and apolipoprotein(a) phenotypes were determined in 46 girls with Turners syndrome (aged 6-15 yr) during treatment with different combinations of rhGH and OX for 24-36 months (median, 27 months).