Andreia Watanabe

Cardiac geometry in children receiving chronic peritoneal dialysis: findings from the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network (IPPN) registry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an independent risk factor and an intermediate end point of dialysis-associated cardiovascular comorbidity. We utilized a global pediatric registry to assess the prevalence, incidence, and predictors of LVH as well as its evolution in the longitudinal follow-up in dialyzed children. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Cross-sectional echocardiographic, clinical, and biochemical data were evaluated in 507 children on peritoneal dialysis (PD), and longitudinal data were evaluated in 128 patients. The 95(th) percentile of LV mass index relative to height age was used to define LVH. RESULTS The overall LVH prevalence was 48.1%. In the prospective analysis, the incidence of LVH developing de novo in patients with normal baseline LV mass was 29%, and the incidence of regression from LVH to normal LV mass 40% per year on PD. Transformation to and regression from concentric LV geometry occurred in 36% and 28% of the patients, respectively. Hypertension, high body mass index, use of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, renal disease other than hypo/dysplasia, and hyperparathyroidism were identified as independent predictors of LVH. The use of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) antagonists and high total fluid output (sum of urine and ultrafiltration) were protective from concentric geometry. The risk of LVH at 1 year was increased by higher systolic BP standard deviation score and reduced in children with renal hypo/dysplasia. CONCLUSIONS Using height-adjusted left ventricular mass index reference data, LVH is highly prevalent but less common than previously diagnosed in children on PD. Renal hypo/dysplasia is protective from LVH, likely because of lower BP and polyuria. Hypertension, fluid overload, and hyperparathyroidism are modifiable determinants of LVH.

Flow-through peritoneal dialysis in neonatal enema-induced hyperphosphatemia

Fleet enemas are hypertonic solutions with an osmotic action and a high concentration of phosphate. When retained in the human body they have a great toxic potential, causing severe hydro-electrolyte disorders in children, especially in newborns. We report the case of a previously healthy 8-day-old newborn who needed neonatal intensive care treatment after the inadvertent administration of an osmotically active hypertonic phosphate enema. Taking into account that phosphate removal by peritoneal dialysis (PD) strongly depends on total dialysate turnover, we chose continuous flow PD (CFPD) as the treatment option, with a successful outcome. Clinical experience with this dialytic modality is limited to a few case reports in pediatric and adult patients. To the best of our knowledge, we report here the first description of CFPD in the setting of acute phosphate nephropathy in the neonatal period. The modality of PD described here has potential as an alternative management option as it is a highly efficient, methodologically simple, and low-cost method without any need for sophisticated equipment. Physicians and parents should be aware of the adverse effects of a hypertonic phosphate enema and should never use these medications in infants and newborns.

Current management issues of immediate postoperative care in pediatric kidney transplantation

The number of pediatric kidney transplants has been increasing in many centers worldwide, as the procedure provides long-lasting and favorable outcomes; however, few papers have addressed the immediate postoperative care of this unique population. Herein, we describe the management of these patients in the early postoperative phase. After the surgical procedure, children should ideally be managed in a pediatric intensive care unit, and special attention should be given to fluid balance, electrolyte disturbances and blood pressure control. Antibiotic and antiviral prophylaxes are usually performed and are based on the recipient and donor characteristics. Thrombotic prophylaxis is recommended for children at high risk for thrombosis, although consensus on the optimum therapy is lacking. Image exams are essential for good graft control, and Doppler ultrasound must be routinely performed on the first operative day and promptly repeated if there is any suspicion of kidney dysfunction. Abdominal drains can be helpful for surveillance in patients with increased risk of surgical complications, such as urinary fistula or bleeding, but are not routinely required. The immunosuppressive regimen starts before or at the time of kidney transplantation and is usually based on induction with monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, depending on the immunological risk, and maintenance with a calcineurin inhibitor (tacrolimus or ciclosporin), an anti-proliferative agent (mycophenolate or azathioprine) and steroids.

Eculizumab for the treatment of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome: case report and revision of the literature

SHU atypical (aHUS), that is, not associated with Escherichia coli Shiga toxinproducing, is seen in 5 to 10% of cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), and can occur at any age and may be sporadic or familial. The prognosis in these cases is reserved, with high mortality and morbidity in the acute phase of the disease, and about 50% of cases can develop chronic kidney disease. The increased knowledge of the pathogenesis of aHUS (overactivation of the alternative pathway of complement), was accompanied by the appearance of a drug, eculizumab, which acts as an inhibitor of membrane attack complex. Our goal is to report a case of infant with aHUS with excellent clinical and laboratory response with the use of eculizumab. 14 month old infant, previously healthy, male, presented anemia and thrombocytopenia at 12 months of age. He was treated with corticosteroids and forwarded to our service for high blood pressure. However, the scans showed nephrotic proteinuria with renal involvement and hypoalbuminemia with direct Coombs negative. He developed anemia, thrombocytopenia, worsening of renal function and hypertension. Renal biopsy showed thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). On the non-hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and acute renal failure with histological substrate MAT, was diagnosed of aHUS. The patient received eculizumab excellent clinical and laboratory response. This case shows the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of the aHUS. Eculizumab is effective and keeps long-term remission, avoiding invasive measures such as plasmapheresis, which resolves only part of the picture.

Peculiaridades da terapia trombolítica na síndrome nefrótica pediátrica: monitorização do fator anti-Xa

OBJECTIVE: Report the importance of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in pediatric nephrotic syndrome and the use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) as an effective and secure therapeutic option. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 5.7 year-old boy with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis was admitted to the pediatric unit with diarrhea, electrolyte disturbances and anasarca. On the 11th day of hospital stay, he developed a sudden respiratory discomfort. Pulmonary ventilation/perfusion cintilography scan demonstrated high probability of PTE and the doppler ultrasonography showed obstruction of the left internal jugular vein. Oxygen support as well as enoxaparin, at a dose of 2mg/kg/day, were prescribed. Six days later, the patient developed transitory cerebrovascular symptoms without alterations in the cranial CT. The serum anti-Xa factor level was lower than the therapeutic range and enoxaparin was increased to 3mg/kg/day. The edema and the pulmonary symptoms improved and the boy was discharged at the 33rd day of stay. COMMENTS: Although PTE is rare in children, nephrotic syndrome is a prothrombotic condition amenable to this complication. LMWH can be considered for treatment and for secondary prophylaxis of PTE. Anti-factor Xa serum level monitoring is necessary to adjust LMWH dosage and to promote an effective and safe treatment.

Effect of Combined Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free Diet in Children With Steroid-Resistant Nephrotic Syndrome: An Open Pilot Trial

Introduction Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) affects both children and adults and has a high rate of progression to end-stage renal disease. Although a subset of patients have well-characterized genetic mutation(s), in the majority of cases, the etiology is unknown. Over the past 50 years, a number of case reports have suggested the potential impact of dietary changes in controlling primary nephrotic syndrome, especially gluten and dairy restrictions. Methods We have designed a prospective, open-label, nonrandomized, pilot clinical trial, to study the effect of a gluten-free and dairy-free (GF/DF) diet in children with SRNS. The study will be organized as a 4-week summer camp to implement a GF/DF diet in a tightly controlled and monitored setting. Blood, urine, and stool samples will be collected at different time points during the study. Results The primary end point is a reduction of more than 50% in the urine protein:creatinine ratio. The secondary end points include changes in urine protein, kidney function, and serum albumin, as well as effects in immune activation, kidney injury biomarkers, and gut microbiome composition and function (metagenomic/metatranscriptomic). Conclusion This study will advance the field by testing the effect of dietary changes in patients with SRNS in a highly controlled camp environment. In addition, we hope the results will help to identify a responder profile that may guide the design of a larger trial for further investigation.

Identification of microorganisms in biofluids of individuals with periodontitis and chronic kidney disease using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

RATIONALE Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and periodontitis (PD) are important health issues. There is a large variety of microorganisms related to the pathogenesis of periodontitis, and optimising the time and the cost of laboratory assays to detect these organisms is highly valuable in the medical field. METHODS Bacteria were isolated from saliva and oral biofilm of 30 adolescents and young adults with definite medical and dental diagnosis of CKD and PD, respectively, and proteins were extracted for microorganism identification by means of the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS) technique. RESULTS The results showed that the most incident microorganisms were Actinomyces dentalis (43%), Acinetobacter ursingi (60%), Aggregatibacter actinomycetencomitans (60%), Corynebacterium argentoctens (63%), Staphylococcus aureus (93%), Streptococcus salivarius (97%) and Tannerella forsythensis (43%). The analysis of oral biofilm showed higher incidences for Actinomyces dentalis (33%), Acinetobacter ursingi (50%), Aggregatibacter actinomycetencomitans (50%), Corynebacterium argentoctens (70%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (40%), Staphylococcus aureus (73%) and Streptococcus salivarius (87%). CONCLUSIONS Based on these results, we concluded that the MALDI Biotyper protocol proves useful as a rapid and reliable assay for distinguishing different microorganisms possibly related to CKD and PD. Copyright

Comparative role of PET and Kt/V determination in pediatric chronic peritoneal dialysis.

Introduction Nutritional state and growth are considered as prognostic markers of chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) adequacy in pediatric patients. The euvolemia, blood pressure control, and metabolic and electrolytic equilibrium are parameters to be achieved by PD treatment. Objective To describe the chronic PD prescription parameters of a cohort of pediatric patients and to compare the obtained hemodynamic, antrophometric and adequacy results with those suggested by the literature. Methods Retrospective analysis based on clinical records evaluation of 30 pediatric patients undergoing PD for more than 6 months from January 1998 to May 2005. Results In the present study, 17/30 (56.7%) were boys. Chronic kidney disease was secondary to uropathy in 66.7% of the cases. The infusion volume was > 1,000 ml/m2 in 9 patients. The peritoneal membrane was characterized as high (27.8%), high-average (33.3%), low-average (22.2%) and low transporter (16.7%). The weekly urea Kt/V was > 2.1 in all the evaluated patients. Blood pressure parameters above the 95th percentile despite the use of antihypertensive medication were observed in 5/30 patients, four of whom with CKD secondary to glomerulopathy. The initial and final Body Mass Index and weight for height ratio were preserved in 83.3% (25/30) patients. Conclusion Elevated indexes of small solutes removal are easily attained in pediatric PD patients and do not imply optimal clinical management do not imply optimal climanagement.