Publications by authors named "Shirley Pollack"

PDSS1 mutations hamper Coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis and cause a rare multisystem mitochondrial disease characterized by diverse clinical features and limited treatment options. To date, renal involvement has been reported in only one patient. We report a new female patient with compound heterozygous PDSS1 mutations and the clinical outcome following a trial of Coenzyme Q10 therapy.

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  • Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a significant cause of kidney failure in children, predominantly presenting as idiopathic cases which often recur after transplantation.
  • Early treatment involving plasmapheresis and rituximab was evaluated in a study of pediatric kidney transplant recipients, showing that 75% experienced recurrence of FSGS post-transplant.
  • The results demonstrated that plasmapheresis led to remission in all patients, and rituximab helped further sustain remission and reduce the need for plasmapheresis, with minimal adverse effects noted.
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  • Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) often occurs in patients who have undergone organ or stem cell transplants and is linked to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, which precedes PTLD in 90% of cases.
  • A study involved pediatric kidney transplant recipients (PKTR) who were monitored for EBV through blood tests, and those with rising viral loads despite lowering immunosuppressive drugs were given preventive rituximab therapy.
  • Results showed that rituximab was effective in clearing EBV from patients who struggled to respond to other treatments, suggesting that it may be a safe option for preventing PTLD in high-risk pediatric kidney transplant patients.
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Background: BKPyV virus nephropathy (BKPyVAN) is diagnosed in 5%-16% of pediatric renal transplant recipients (PRTR) and preceded by BKPyV-viruria and DNAemia. Despite the risk of irreversible transplant damage associated with BKPyVAN, evidence-based consensus guidelines for BKPyVAN prevention are still lacking. In this retrospective study, we examined the safety and efficacy of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (HD-IVIG) therapy for prevention of BKPyVAN in PRTR with significant BKPyV-viruria/DNAemia.

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) constitutes a worldwide epidemic, affecting approximately 10% of the global population, and imposes significant medical, psychological, and financial burdens on society. Individuals with CKD often face elevated morbidity and mortality rates, mainly due to premature cardiovascular events. Chronic inflammation has been shown to play a significant role in the progression of CKD, as well as in the acceleration of CKD-related complications, including atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease (CVD), protein-energy wasting, and the aging process.

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Article Synopsis
  • Genetic causes are significant contributors to chronic kidney diseases (CKD) in children, yet the prevalence of these causes from an unselected population is under-researched.
  • A national study in Israel involved exome sequencing of children on dialysis, revealing genetic etiologies in 45% of participants, with congenital kidney anomalies as the most common cause.
  • The study highlighted that genetic diagnoses can greatly influence clinical management, particularly showing higher diagnostic yields in specific demographic groups.
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Purpose: To describe ocular findings in individuals with primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1), focusing on the correlations between retinal anatomy and retinal function. To characterize the retinal alterations that occur at different disease stages by evaluating individuals with diverse degrees of renal impairment associated with PH1.

Design: A cross-sectional study.

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Background: Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM), including organic acidemias and urea cycle defects, are characterized by systemic accumulation of toxic metabolites with deleterious effect on the developing brain. While hemodialysis (HD) is most efficient in clearing IEM-induced metabolic toxins, data regarding its use during the neonatal period is scarce.

Methods: We retrospectively summarize our experience with HD in 20 neonates with IEM-induced metabolic intoxication (seven with maple syrup urine disease, 13 with primary hyperammonia), over a 16-year period, between 2004 and 2020.

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Aims: In this retrospective study we examined the safety and efficacy of high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (HD-IVIG) therapy in preventing BKVN in pediatric renal transplant recipients with BK-viremia/viruria.

Background: BK virus nephropathy (BKVN) is diagnosed in 5-16% of pediatric renal transplant recipients and is preceded by BK viremia/viruria. Despite irreversible renal damage associated with BKVN, there is a lack of evidence-based guidelines for preventive measures in patients with BK viremia/viruria.

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Background And Objectives: Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is mostly attributed to dysregulation of the alternative complement pathway (ACP) secondary to disease-causing variants in complement components or regulatory proteins. Hereditary aHUS due to C3 disruption is rare, usually caused by heterozygous activating mutations in the gene, and transmitted as autosomal dominant traits. We studied the molecular basis of early-onset aHUS, associated with an unusual finding of a novel homozygous activating deletion in C3.

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The formation of metabolite fibrillar assemblies represents a paradigm shift in the study of human metabolic disorders. Yet, direct clinical relevance has been attributed only to metabolite crystals. A notable example for metabolite crystallization is calcium oxalate crystals observed in various diseases, including primary hyperoxaluria.

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Background: Several cases of folliculotropic mycosis fungoides, associated with immunosuppressive therapy, including calcineurin inhibitors, have been reported in solid organ transplant patients. We have encountered 3 patients on immunosuppressive therapy who developed follicular eruptions with folliculocentric infiltrates of nonatypical lymphocytes.

Objective: To characterize these follicular eruptions and review the literature.

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Background: Peritoneal dialysis is the preferred mode of renal replacement therapy in infants with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Hemodialysis (HD) is seldom used in neonates and infants due to the risk of major complications in the very young.

Methods: Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and imaging data on all infants younger than 12 months with ESRD who received HD in our Pediatric Dialysis Unit between January 1997 and June 2013 were analyzed.

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Background And Objectives: Hemodialysis (HD) catheter-related complications are regarded as the main cause of HD failure in infants and children with ESRD. In this study, we determined HD catheter infection rates and survival times in children.

Design, Setting, Participants, & Measurements: We analyzed demographic, clinical, laboratory, and microbiologic data on all infants and children with ESRD who received HD therapy through a tunneled central venous catheter (CVC) in our Pediatric Dialysis Unit between January 2001 and December 2009.

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Subgaleal hematoma (SGH) is an infrequent finding in neonates, occurring mostly after vacuum extraction deliveries. SGH can cause anemia, hypovolemic shock, and death. To date, only one case of neonatal infected SGH has previously been reported.

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