Publications by authors named "Flavia Ramirez"

Background: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) is a severe condition mainly affecting children. It is one of the leading causes of acute kidney injury in the pediatric population. There is no established therapy for this disease.

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In Argentina, hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC-HUS) infection is endemic, and reliable data about prevalence and risk factors have been available since 2000. However, information about STEC-associated bloody diarrhea (BD) is limited. A prospective study was performed during the period October 2018-June 2019 in seven tertiary-hospitals and 18 referral units from different regions, aiming to determine (i) the frequency of STEC-positive BD cases in 714 children aged 1-9 years of age and (ii) the rate of progression of bloody diarrhea to HUS.

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Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets is a genetic condition associated with impaired bone mineralization caused by phosphate deficiency. It results in skeletal deformity and growth retardation in early childhood. Different inheritance patterns have been described according to the locus involved.

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In 2015, the "New recommendations regarding the current controversies in urinary infection" were published in the Archivos Argentinos de Pediatría. Given the fact that in these past years, new evidence has emerged regarding the diagnosis and treatment of urinary infection, the Pediatric Nephrology Committee of Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría has decided to update these recommendations. The main goal is to provide the pediatrician with the necessary tools to make a correct diagnosis, define the most appropriate treatment, select the patients who will benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis, and decide which imaging studies will be necessary, avoiding costly and invasive interventions.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of renal involvement in pediatric COVID-19 patients across 13 sites in Argentina, revealing rates between 1.2% and 44% from existing data.
  • Conducted from March to December 2020, it included 423 hospitalized patients aged 1 month to 18 years, excluding those with pre-existing kidney disease, and defined renal involvement through various metrics like acute kidney injury.
  • Results showed a 10.8% prevalence of renal issues, mainly leukocyturia, proteinuria, and hematuria, with a significant correlation to severe disease forms, while no patients required dialysis.
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Background: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection is the most common cause of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Only few studies correlated serotypes and stx genotypes with disease severity. This study aimed to update STEC serotypes, stx genotypes, and virulence factors (eae and ehxA) in a cohort of patients with STEC-HUS and investigate whether they influence the severity of disease.

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Background: Management of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children with hemolytic uremic syndrome induced by a Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection (STEC-HUS) is supportive; however, 40 to 60% of cases need kidney replacement therapy (KRT). The aim of this study was to analyze procedure complications, especially peritonitis, and clinical outcomes in children with AKI secondary to STEC-HUS treated with acute PD.

Methods: This is a multicenter retrospective study conducted among thirty-seven Argentinian centers.

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Maple syrup disease is an autosomal recessive entity caused by a congenital error in the metabolism of three essential branchedchain amino acids: valine, leucine and isoleucine. The neonatal form of this disease is expressed by a severe and progressive neurological compromise, associated with a peculiar smell of urine, a consequence of the elimination of the excess of these amino acids. This smell of burnt sugar mimics the molasses obtained from maples, which gives its name to this disease.

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Objectives: (1) Evaluate mortality rate in patients with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli hemolytic uremic syndrome, (2) determine the leading causes of death, and (3) identify predictors of mortality at hospital admission.

Methods: We conducted a multicentric, observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study. It included patients under 18 years old with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli hemolytic uremic syndrome hospitalized between January 2005 and June 2016.

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Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) is the main cause of acute renal failure in children. The high percentage of patients who develop long-term sequelae constitutes an important medical concern. The identification of parameters that correlate with the degree of renal failure may be useful to plan the best treatment soon after hospitalization.

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The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is the most-common cause of acute renal failure in children. Several researchers have reported the presence of neutrophil (PMN) activating cytokines, such as interleukin-8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, in the sera of HUS patients. Moreover, PMN-derived products, such as elastase, were increased.

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