Presentation of pediatric Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis changes with age and renal histology depends on biopsy timing.

Background: This study correlates the clinical presentation of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) with findings on initial renal biopsy.

Methods: Data from 202 pediatric patients enrolled in the HSPN registry of the German Society of Pediatric Nephrology reported by 26 centers between 2008 and 2014 were analyzed. All biopsy reports were re-evaluated for the presence of cellular crescents or chronic pathological lesions (fibrous crescents, glomerular sclerosis, tubular atrophy >5%, and interstitial fibrosis >5%).

Predicting the response to growth hormone treatment in short children with chronic kidney disease.

Context: Short stature in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is due to various underlying congenital or acquired renal disorders resulting in variable impairment of renal function and variable response to GH treatment.

Objective: It was the aim to develop a mathematical model that allows the prediction of the individual growth response and to identify nonresponders.

Design: Data from 208 prepubertal children on conservative or dialysis treatment in a large pharmaco-epidemiological survey, the KIGS (Pfizer International Growth Database), were used for the model and data from 67 similar CKD patients registered at the Dutch Growth Research Foundation for validation.

Short-term growth hormone treatment and microcirculation: effects in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Endothelial dysfunction is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and contributes significantly to the high long-term cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The short-term cardiovascular effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) in CKD patients (stages III-V) and healthy controls (n=15 each) were explored in a single-center, non-randomized pilot study. Subjects were investigated before, after a 7 day treatment with rhGH, and after a 7 day wash-out period.

Factors predicting the near-final height in growth hormone-treated children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease.

Context: GH therapy is an accepted measure to increase adult height in young prepubertal patients suffering from growth failure related to chronic kidney disease (CKD). The impact of GH therapy on final height (FH) in CKD patients of pubertal age is unclear.

Objective: This study set out to analyze near-FH in a cohort of GH-treated CKD patients.

Growth impairment shows an age-dependent pattern in boys with chronic kidney disease.

The impact of chronological age on longitudinal body growth from early childhood through adolescence using detailed anthropometric methods has not yet been studied in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We have evaluated growth failure by measuring four components of linear growth: body height (HT), sitting height (SHT), arm length (AL) and leg length (LL). Data were prospectively collected for up to 7 years on 190 boys (3-21 years old) with congenital or hereditary CKD (all had developed at least stage 2 CKD by the age of 10 years).

Body growth after combined liver-kidney transplantation in children with primary hyperoxaluria type 1.

Background: Children with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1) often develop severe growth failure, which is related to metabolic and endocrine consequences of chronic renal failure, and/or oxalate deposition in bone and cartilage. Combined liver and kidney transplantation (LKT) corrects the underlying metabolic defect and restores renal function in these children.

Methods: We therefore analyzed longitudinal growth of 24 children with PH1 who underwent LKT at nine European centers.

Arterial and cardiac disease in young adults with childhood-onset end-stage renal disease-impact of calcium and vitamin D therapy.

Background: Studies in patients with childhood-onset end-stage renal disease (ESRD) provide a diagnostic window to the evolution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this population. Hyperphosphataemia and renal osteodystrophy are particularly difficult to treat in paediatric patients, but there is only limited information regarding the effect of calcium-containing phosphate binders and vitamin D preparations on the development of CVD in the young.

Methods: We studied 40 adult patients (mean age 23.

Systemic cardiovascular disease in uremic rats induced by 1,25(OH)2D3.

Objective: Vitamin D may contribute to cardiovascular disease in the absence of hypercalcemia in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Methods: We investigated the effects of long-term (6-week) treatment with 1,25(OH)2D3, at a non-hypercalcemic dosage (0.25 microg/kg per day per orally) in 5/6 nephrectomized rats: (i) vehicle-treated, sham-operated rats; (ii) 1,25(OH)2D3-treated, sham-operated rats; (iii) vehicle-treated, 5/6 nephrectomized rats; and (iv) 1,25(OH)2D3-treated, 5/6 nephrectomized rats.

Effect of renal transplantation in childhood on longitudinal growth and adult height.

Background: Severe growth failure is frequently observed in children suffering from end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: We analyzed the effect of renal transplantation (RTx) on longitudinal growth and final height in 37 children (19 girls) with ESRD with a mean follow-up of 8.5 years.

Effects of growth hormone treatment on body proportions and final height among small children with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets.

Background: X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH) is characterized by rickets, disproportionate short stature, and impaired renal phosphate reabsorption and vitamin D metabolism. Despite oral phosphate and vitamin D treatment, most children with XLH demonstrate reduced adult height.

Objective: To determine the beneficial effects of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy on body proportions and adult height among patients with XLH.