A clinical predictive model of chronic kidney disease in children with posterior urethral valves.

Background: Posterior urethral valves (PUVs) are associated with severe consequences to the urinary tract and are a common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to develop clinical predictive model of CKD in a cohort of patients with PUVs.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 173 patients with PUVs were systematically followed up at a single tertiary unit.

Comparison of outcomes with low-dose anti-thymocyte globulin, basiliximab or no induction therapy in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: a retrospective study.

It is unclear which induction therapy yields the best outcomes in pediatric kidney transplantation. Retrospective data of 88 children receiving a renal allograft between November 1996 and October 2003 were analyzed. Patients received ATGI (n = 12), BI (n = 29), or NAI (n = 47).

Proteinuria in pediatric renal transplant recipients during the first 60 post-transplant days.

Although normative values of post-transplant proteinuria have been reported in adults, data for pediatric renal transplant recipients have not been previously published. We hypothesized that pediatric renal transplant recipients achieve normal urinary protein to creatinine (UProt/UCr) ratios (<0.2) by 60 days post-transplant in the absence of early recurrent disease.

A technique for rapid exchange of continuous renal replacement therapy.

Re-initiation of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in neonates and young infants weighing less than 15 kg often necessitates a blood prime of the blood circuit path or a concurrent packed red blood cell (PRBC) transfusion to avoid causing hemodynamic instability due to acute hemodilution. The significant amount of time required for a routine CRRT circuit change can be associated with worsening electrolyte and acid-base abnormalities, fluid retention, greater hemodynamic instability and reducing effective hemofiltration time. In an attempt to limit the time without CRRT and to eliminate the requirement for additional blood exposure, a new technique, rapid exchange of continuous renal replacement therapy (RECRRT), was developed.

Hyperhomocysteinemia in pediatric and young adult renal transplant recipients.

Hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) has been recently identified as an important and reversible cardiovascular risk factor in adult and pediatric renal transplant recipients. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 70 pediatric and young adult renal transplant recipients was performed to determine the prevalence, and important clinical and laboratory correlates of HHcy. Total homocysteine concentration, free and protein bound, was determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay using an IMX analyzer.

The use of art therapy to detect depression and post-traumatic stress disorder in pediatric and young adult renal transplant recipients.

Pediatric and young adult renal transplant recipients may experience feelings of depression and emotional trauma. A study was conducted to (1) determine the prevalence of depression and emotional trauma and (2) assess the utility of the Formal Elements of Art Therapy Scale (FEATS). Sixty-four renal transplant recipients, 6-21 yr of age, were evaluated using self-report measures (CDI and Davidson) and art-based assessments.

Colonic hydrogen elimination and methane production in infants with and without infantile colic syndrome.

Our objective was to investigate the relationship between demographic factors, nutrition, stool gas production, and the existence of infantile colic (IC) syndrome. Hydrogen and methane production from stool specimens of infants with and without infantile colic was quantified at two separate time points, the age at presentation of colic (<12 weeks) and at >6 months of age. The relationship between demographic variables and IC was also studied.

Anemia in children after transplantation: etiology and the effect of immunosuppressive therapy on erythropoiesis.

Anemia in children after renal transplantation is more common than previously appreciated. Multiple factors appear to play roles in the development of post-transplant anemia, the most common of which is absolute and/or functional iron deficiency anemia. Most experts recommend that iron limited anemias in transplant patients should be diagnosed using the same criteria as for chronic renal failure patients.

Unexpectedly high prevalence of posttransplant anemia in pediatric and young adult renal transplant recipients.

Background: Although posttransplant anemia (PTA) is recognized as a common problem in adult renal transplant recipients, few pediatric studies have been published.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study of 162 pediatric renal transplant recipients treated at Stanford University, the authors sought to determine the prevalence, severity, and the predictive factors of PTA. Anemia was defined as a hematocrit (HCT) level greater than 2 SD below published means for age or as erythropoietin dependency to maintain a normal HCT.

Limited surgical interventions in children with posterior urethral valves can lead to better outcomes following renal transplantation.

There is currently no consensus as to the most appropriate means by which children with posterior urethral valves (PUV) are to be managed prior to transplantation. We compared (i) renal allograft survival and function in patients with PUV vs. those with non-obstructive causes of ESRD and (ii) graft outcomes in children who had limited interventions (Group 1) vs.

Late post-transplant anemia in adult renal transplant recipients. An under-recognized problem?

Post-transplant anemia (PTA), a frequent complication during the first 3-6 months after transplant, is thought to be uncommon during the late post-transplant period. A study population of adults (> 18 years) transplanted during 1995 at Stanford University (n = 88) and University of North Carolina (n = 40) was selected. Data-collection points were 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years post transplant.

Clinicopathologic correlates predict the outcome in children with steroid-resistant idiopathic nephrotic syndrome treated with pulse methylprednisolone therapy.

Although pulse methylprednisolone therapy (PMT) has been used successfully in the management of children with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS), the relationship between initial presenting findings and renal histological characteristics to the subsequent clinical response to PMT is unknown. A retrospective analysis was conducted in a study cohort of 42 children (30 boys, 12 girls; mean age, 7.4 +/- 4.

Successful renal transplant outcome after intravenous gamma-globulin treatment of a highly sensitized pediatric recipient.

Approximately 10% of patients on the renal transplant (Tx) cadaver waiting list have high (> 20%) panel-reactive antibody (PRA) levels to human leukocyte antigens (HLA). Intravenous gamma-globulin (IVIG) has been shown to reduce anti-HLA cytotoxic antibody levels through an anti-idiotypic antibody-blocking effect. We report a successful renal Tx outcome in a 7-yr-old-girl with high PRA levels owing to a failed renal Tx who experienced a significant reduction in PRA levels (from 96% to 0%) concomitant with IVIG therapy.