Hepatitis B virus vaccination in children with steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome: immunogenicity and safety?

We investigated the efficacy and safety of Hepatitis B vaccine (HBVac) in steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) children. 41 patients with SSNS and 30 controls were vaccinated with HBVac(Engerix B(®)). Patients were divided into 3 subgroups:full dose steroid users, alternate-day steroid users and steroid non-users.

Ambulatory blood pressure and subclinical cardiovascular disease in patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of subclinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its relation to risk factors, particularly hypertension in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: A total of 24 patients with normal renal function were examined for subclinical CVD by using non-invasive methods, including the measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid distensibility, aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) and left ventricular mass (LVM). Blood pressure (BP) pattern and the presence of hypertension were assessed by 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM).

Hepatitis B vaccination in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: In this study, we examined the antibody responses after recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in juvenile SLE patients and whether antibody levels were affected by immunosuppressive therapy.

Methods: This study consisted of 64 juvenile SLE patients and 24 healthy controls. We evaluated HBsAg, Anti-HBs and Anti-HbcIgG titers in SLE patients.

Glucose intolerance: is it a risk factor for cardiovascular disease in children with chronic kidney disease?

A total of 66 children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (20 pre-dialysis patients and 46 chronic dialysis patients) were evaluated to address the prevalence of abnormalities in glucose and insulin metabolism and their association with cardiovascular disease. Glucose intolerance was assessed using an oral glucose tolerance test; insulin resistance was estimated by the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were examined as early markers of cardiovascular disease.

Analysis of MEFV exon methylation and expression patterns in familial Mediterranean fever.

Background: MEFV mutations and decreased expression level of the gene are related to FMF pathology. DNA methylation at CpG islands is a well-known mechanism for transcriptional silencing. MEFV has a CpG island, spanning a part of the first intron and the whole of the second exon of the gene covering 998 bp region.

Is it safe to use anti-TNF-α agents for tuberculosis in children suffering with chronic rheumatic disease?

To determine the incidence of latent tuberculosis infection and evaluate the follow-up protocol of the patients diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and other chronic rheumatologic diseases treated with anti-TNF-α treatment (etanercept, infliximab, adalimumab) in Turkey, 144 patients were evaluated retrospectively for the development of tuberculosis. Patients were evaluated every 6 months for tuberculosis using history, physical examination, tuberculin skin test (TST), chest radiographs, and, when required, examination of sputum/early morning gastric aspirates for acid-fast bacilli and chest tomography. A tuberculin skin test over 10 mm induration was interpreted as positive.

Economic impact of juvenile idiopathic arthritis and familial Mediterranean fever.

The aim of the study was to determine the economical impact of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) in Turkey. A total of 100 patients (69 F/31 M) with JIA and 100 with FMF (68 F/32 F) who were consecutively seen in the outpatient clinic of the pediatric rheumatology department at Cerrahpasa Medical School between August 2008 and January 2009 were studied. Cost data were collected through a questionnaire filled out by the parents.

Dialysate CA125 levels after 5 years on continuous peritoneal dialysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate longitudinal changes in dialysate cancer antigen 125 (dCA125) levels over time and to analyze relationships between dCA125 and peritoneal glucose exposure (PGE) in children undergoing long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). The study group included seven boys and four girls (mean age 13 ± 5.1 years) with a mean PD duration of 84.

The distribution of juvenile idiopathic arthritis in the eastern Mediterranean: results from the registry of the Turkish Paediatric Rheumatology Association.

Objectives: To analyse the demographics, main clinical and laboratory features and subtype distribution of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) in an eastern Mediterranean country, based on a multicentre registry.

Methods: Between March 2008 and February 2009 with this cross-sectional study, consecutive patients seen with JIA in selected centres were registered through a web-based registry. All patients were classified according to the International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) criteria.

Abdominal manifestations of polyarteritis nodosa demonstrated with CT.

We report a rare case of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) presenting in childhood. The child had multiple visceral aneurysms and later developed ascending colitis and jejunitis. The diagnosis was established with multidetector CT and CT angiography.

Do infections trigger juvenile idiopathic arthritis?

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a disease that was prominent with increased inflammation response in immune system, appeared mostly with peripheral arthritis and endogenous and exogenous antigens play a role in the pathogenesis of disease. Two major reasons were thinking to be considerably important. First of them is immunological predisposition and the second one is environmental factors.

Left ventricular function by 'conventional' and 'tissue Doppler' echocardiography in paediatric dialysis patients.

Aim: Cardiovascular abnormalities are common in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Left ventricular (LV) structure and functions have been extensively studied by conventional pulse-wave Doppler echocardiography (cPWD), however, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) is a relatively new echocardiography method. The aims of this study were to evaluate LV diastolic function in paediatric dialysis patients using cPWD and TDI methods, and to compare the findings obtained with two modalities.

Purified protein derivative response in juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

Objective: To examine the purified protein derivative (PPD) response that develops depending upon Th1 immune response in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).

Methods: PPD skin test was performed in 115 children with JIA who were vaccinated with bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG), and then they were compared to the PPD response of 45 healthy children of the same age who were vaccinated with BCG. Children with a PPD induration > or = 5 mm were accepted as PPD-positive.

Progression of coronary calcification in pediatric chronic kidney disease stage 5.

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is common in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and progresses with time. However, data are limited for younger patients. We have previously reported CAC in eight of 53 children with CKD.

MEFV mutations modify the clinical presentation of Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of MEFV gene mutations in Turkish patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) but with no symptoms of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). In addition, we assessed the clinical and laboratory characteristics of HSP patients with and without MEFV mutations.

Methods: Eighty pediatric patients with HSP (44 boys and 36 girls) were enrolled.

Blood volume monitoring to adjust dry weight in hypertensive pediatric hemodialysis patients.

The aim of this study was to adjust dry weight by short-term blood volume monitoring (BVM)-guided ultrafiltration and evaluate the effects of optimizing dry weight on blood pressure (BP) control and intradialytic symptoms (IDS) in a group of hypertensive hemodialysis (HD) patients. The study was performed in four sequential phases, each of which lasted for 1 week, on nine hypertensive HD patients (six girls, age 16.9 +/- 3.

Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function and carotid intima-media thickness in pediatric dialysis patients.

Background: Cardiovascular complications are common in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We aimed to investigate left ventricular (LV) function and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) in children and adolescents with ESRD.

Methods: This study included 38 ESRD patients (15 hemodialysis and 23 peritoneal dialysis) and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.

A case of catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome in an adolescent girl with parvovirus B19 infection.

Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by recurrent thrombosis and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies. Clinical presentations are dependent on the affected vessels and organs. The most common presentation of antiphospholipid syndrome is arterial or venous thrombosis.

Prevalence of the MEFV gene mutations in childhood polyarteritis nodosa.

Objectives: To test the hypothesis that alterations in the Mediterranean fever (MEFV) gene are a susceptibility factor for the development of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) we investigated the prevalence of MEFV mutations in patients with PAN without any symptoms of familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).

Study Design: Pediatric patients with PAN (n = 29) were enrolled in this study. Six predominant mutations (p.

A child with primary Sjögren syndrome and a review of the literature.

Primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS) is an uncommon disease in childhood. Childhood pSS might have different clinical manifestations than adult pSS. We describe a 13-year-old girl with multiple episodes of bilateral parotid swelling lasting 2 years.

Is Familial Mediterranean Fever a thrombotic disease or not?

The aim of our study was to show how the progression and severity of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is affected by procoagulant activity and alterations in the markers of thrombosis and fibrinolysis. The study cohort comprised 64 FMF patients who were classified as attack-free patients (Group 1; n = 34 patients, aged 3-19 years) and attack patients (Group 2; n = 30 patients, aged 3-21 years). All patients were on colchicine treatment with the exception the newly diagnosed patients in Group 2.

Traditional and "new" cardiovascular risk markers and factors in pediatric dialysis patients.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the principal cause of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The aim of this study was to analyze carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT), endothelium-dependent dilatation (EDD), and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) as the cardiovascular risk markers and to investigate the independent risk factors of these markers in pediatric dialysis patients. This study included 39 children and adolescents undergoing dialysis (15 hemodialysis and 24 peritoneal dialysis) and 15 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects.