Caner Kabasakal

Effect of enalapril on proteinuria, phosphaturia, and calciuria in insulin-dependent diabetes.

Abstract. Elevated urinary calcium and phosphate excretion have been observed in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). This may be related to a defect in tubular reabsorption. It is well known that converting enzyme inhibition decreases microalbuminuria and may prevent or retard diabetic nephropathy. We investigated whether enalapril also improves the defect in calcium and phosphate reabsorption. We studied 16 children and young adults (age 12–21 years) with IDDM and persistent microalbuminuria before and during 12 weeks of enalapril treatment. Before treatment microalbuminuria, urinary calcium excretion, and fractional tubular phosphorus reabsorption (TPR) were 153±53 μg/min, 5.5±0.9 mg/kg per day, and 71.4±3.6%, respectively. At the end of the 12th week, microalbuminuria had decreased to 20.3±7.9 μg/min and calcium excretion to 3.3±0.4 mg/kg per day (P<0.01), while the TPR increased to 80.1±3.8% (NS). The renal threshold phosphate concentration increased from 1.8±0.15 to 2.92±0.23 mg/dl (P<0.01). The fasting serum glucose and hemoglobin Alc levels did not change significantly during the study. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 120.4±2.2/79.3±1.4 mm Hg and 110.5±1.8/ 71.3±0.9 mm Hg before and after 12 weeks, respectively. We conclude that enalapril treatment improves not only microalbuminuria but also abnormal calcium and phosphate excretion in microalbuminuric children with IDDM.

Pediatric renal transplantation: Single center experience

Abstract:  Although renal transplantation (RTx) is actually the first choice of treatment for children with end‐stage renal disease, the number of transplanted children remains low in comparison with adults. The experience of the individual pediatric transplant center is very important in the outcome of pediatric transplant recipients. In this study, our pediatric renal transplantation experience is presented. We retrospectively analyzed the results of 72 pediatric renal transplants performed at Ege University Pediatric Nephrology Transplantation Center between June 1989 and May 2003. They were 40 girls, 32 boys and their mean RTx age was 13.27±3.73 yr (range 3–20 yr). Thirty‐eight (52.8%) of the transplanted kidneys came from a living related donor, and 34 (47.2%) from a cadaveric donor. Preemptive RTx was performed in one patient and a second RTx was performed in one patient after two‐period hemodialysis. Hypertension (31.9%), acute rejection (27.8%) and chronic rejection (13.9%) were the most common complications. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection occurred in 15 children (20.8%), none of whom died or lost their graft as a result of the infection. Pretransplant acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was detected in 12 patients (16.7%). Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were seen in 31 (43.1%) recipients. The 1, 5 and 10 yr graft survival rates were 91, 84 and 77%, respectively, and corresponding patient survival rates were 97, 84 and 77%, respectively by Kaplan–Meier method. The graft and overall survival was not correlated with sex, donor type, treatment modality, acute rejection episodes, hypertension, UTIs, CMV and HCV infection.

Inferior vena cava indices determine volume load in minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome.

Abstract The pathogenesis of edema in nephrotic syndrome has not been entirely understood. We investigated the value of the echographic parameters [inferior vena cava index (IVCI), inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVCCI), and left atrium diameter (LAD)] to determine the volume load in children with minimal lesion nephrotic syndrome (MLNS). Twelve children with MLNS (seven boys, five girls) were included in this study. The patients were classified into three different stages (stage A: edematous; stage B: 50% decrease in weight gain; stage C: edema free) following measurement of their ideal weights. The ideal weight of patients in stage A was increased 13±7%. Serum total protein, albumin and urine sodium levels were found to be low in these patients. Plasma renin activity (PRA) and serum aldosterone levels in stage A were significantly different from those of the control group (P<0.05). PRA and serum aldosterone levels were not different from those of the control group in stage B (P>0.05). However, the increase in PRA was significant in stage C. Although a significant weight decrease was found in stages B and C, it had no effect on IVCI, LAD, and cardiothoracic index. We consider IVCI, IVCCI, and LAD measurements by echocardiography (ECHO) to be easy and reliable clinical methods for assessing the intravascular volume load in patients with MLNS.

Lead exposure and urinary N-acetyl β D glucosaminidase activity in adolescent workers in auto repair workshops

PURPOSE To investigate levels of lead (Pb) exposure and renal tubular damage among adolescent workers in auto repair workshops in Turkey. METHODS The study was conducted on 39 adolescent workers (mean age: 16.18 +/- 3.19 years) in auto repair workshops (8 autoelectrician, 10 motor repairman, 8 auto painter, 5 turner, 8 bonnet straighter). Thirteen adult employees of battery production in the workshops (mean age: 32.08 +/- 10.94 years) and 29 healthy rural adolescent (mean age: 14.78 +/- 2.68 years) constituted the control groups. The level of blood Pb was investigated by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer and urinary N-acetyl beta- D glucosaminidase (NAG) activity was measured by a colorimetric method. Mann-Whitney U test was performed to examine group differences. RESULTS All subjects and controls had normal blood urea, creatinine, uric acid, sodium, potassium levels, normal routine urine examination and tubular phosphorus reabsorption. Blood Pb levels in auto repair workers (8.13 +/- 7.41 mug/dL) were significantly higher than the rural control group (3.49 +/- 1.39 mug/dL) but lower than the battery workers (25.27 +/- 9.82 mug/dL). Urinary NAG (U/gr creatinine) (4.71 +/- 2.11) was lower than the battery workers (7.39 +/- 4.37), however significantly higher than the normal control group (3.07 +/- 1.20). In addition, auto painters had higher levels of Pb exposure and urinary NAG activity than the other workers (p <.05). CONCLUSION Chronic low dose Pb exposure was found to cause renal tubular injury in children workers of auto repair workshops.

Bone mineral density in pediatric and adolescent renal transplant patients: How to evaluate

Abstract:  Reduced bone mass is a common complication of renal transplantation in adults but only few data are present for pediatric transplant patients. Bone mineral status of pediatric renal transplant patients ages ranging from 7.5 to 17.6 years (mean age 14.9 ± 2.3) who were at least 6 months postrenal transplantation was examined. Bone mineral density (BMD) of lumbar vertebrea and femoral neck was determined by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and z‐scores according to age, puberty, height and bone age were compared to sex and ethnic specific reference data. z‐scores were calculated for both areal and volumetric bone density. BMD L1‐4 z‐scores were more than 2 SD below the mean according to chronological age in 12 patients (63%), pubertal status in six patients (31.5%), bone age in five patients (26.3%) and height in five patients (26.3%). The BMD femoral neck z‐scores were more than 2 SD below the mean according to age in 10 patients (55.5%), puberty in five patients (27.7%), bone age in three (16.6%) patients and height in five (26.3%) patients. Correction of the vertebrae and femoral neck for bone size yielded osteoporotic values for seven patients (36.8%) for lumbar BMD and for four patients (22%) for femoral neck BMD. The use of aBMD in growth‐retarded children has some restrictions in determining z‐scores. Deficits in spinal bone density still persisted after correcting for height, puberty, bone age and volume. In renal transplant patients who have short stature it is reasonable to give values corrected for height, puberty, bone age and bone size and interpret each of these values for each patient.

Plasma and urinary platelet activating factor concentrations and leukotriene releasing activity of leukocytes in steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome of childhood

Platelet activating factor (PAF) is synthesized and secreted by glomerular mesangial and endothelial cells. It increases glomerular basement membrane permeability and induces proteinuria. Leukotrienes (LT) are mediators released by either leukocytes or glomerular cells under the PAF effect. The possible role of PAF in steroid sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) of childhood was studied in 8 children with SSNS in the acute stage, 5 children in remission and 8 healthy controls. The PAF concentrations in urine and plasma were determined. Leukocytes were stimulated in vitro and the LT release in response to stimulation was determined. The urinary and plasma concentrations of PAF were significantly higher in the acute phase than in remission and in control patients. Children with SSNS were found to have peripheral leukocytes with increased LT releasing activity in vitro. These results are in accordance with clinical and experimental observations indicating that PAF originates in the kidney and plays a role in normal kidney physiology. Urinary PAF concentrations may be related to proteinuria because they were strongly correlated in the present study. Elevated plasma PAF concentrations in the acute stage of SSNS could result from either its secretion from the circulating leukocytes or decreased acetyl hidrolase activity needed for its hydrolysis in plasma. The increased LT release in vitro suggests that these cells might have been activated by PAF secreted from glomeruli. It is proposed that PAF and different LT in systemic and glomerular circulation are important mediators in childhood SSNS.

Renal resistive indexes and some renal functions in liver cirrhotic children

Abstract Background : The aim of the present study was to investigate renal vascular resistive changes in children with different stages of liver cirrhosis without obvious renal failure.

Hemodiyaliz Hastalarında Hepatit B Hepatit C Enfeksiyonu ve Hepatit B Aşı Uygulaması

This study was performed to determine the prevalence hepatitis B surfage antigen other hepatitis B markers anti HCV antibodies the variations during the course of haemodialysis and immun response to a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine in children with chronic renal failure on haemodialysis nbsp; 54 patients 26 males and 28 females median age 12 1±2 7 years range 5 16 years treated with haemodialysis for median of 12 9±13 9 months were studied All hepatitis markers were detected in serum by an enzyme immunassey in the beginning of haemodialysis and 3 6 months interval during the period of haemodialysis In the beginning of haemodialysis 5 of the patients 9 2 were HBsAg positive 17 31 5 HBsAg negative anti HBs positive and or anti HBc positive nbsp; 33 patients were evaluated for anti HCV antibodies and 9 of these patients 30 3 were anti HCV positive One of the seronegative patients treated with haemodialysis for three years developed hepatitis B infection but none of the seronegative patients developed hepatitis C infection 8 patients with negative hepatitis B markers were immunized with three doses of 20 micrograms of hepatitis B vaccine administered at monthly intervals 5 patients 62 5 developed seroconversion after three vaccinations Key words: Hemodialysis Hepatitis B Hepatitis C Hepatitis B Vaccine