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This cross-sectional study investigates the association between insulin resistance (IR) and serum uric acid (sUA) and relative fat (RFM) and lean mass (RLM) profiles in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). RLM and RFM were assessed by bioimpedance spectroscopy in 41 children and adolescents. Normal weight obesity (NWO) was defined as normal height-age body mass index and RFM >85th percentile, according to age and sex. Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) level >95th percentile, according to sex and pubertal stage, and sUA >7 mg/dl were used to define IR and hyperuricemia, respectively. High RFM (15 patients) and NWO (7 patients) were associated with higher HOMA-IR in total (p

In recent years, pulse wave velocity (PWV) has emerged as a surrogate marker of cardiovascular disease in children with cardiovascular risk factors. The aims of the present study were to identify determinants of PWV in children according to their weight status and to investigate the role of peripheral blood pressure and central hemodynamic parameters in the association between PWV and obesity.We included in the study healthy children and adolescents randomly selected from a school-based blood pressure screening study. All participants underwent ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and 24-h pulse wave analysis.Overweight and obese children had higher 24-h PWV, 24-h peripheral and central systolic blood pressure (SBP), and cardiac output than normal weight ones. Children with both overweight and hypertension presented the highest 24-h PWV values (p 0.001). Peripheral and central SBP, body mass index (BMI), and hemodynamic parameters, including stroke volume, cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, and cardiac index, were all associated with 24-h PWV. However, in stepwise regression analysis, 24-h peripheral and central SBP and cardiac index, but not BMI, were independent predictors of 24-h PWV. There were statistically significant differences in 24-h blood pressure and hemodynamic parameters among those on the lower and highest 24-h PWV quartile, but there were no significant differences in BMI among 24-h PWV quartile groups.Arterial stiffness is higher in overweight and obese children in the co-presence of hypertension. Peripheral and central SBP are the main determinants of 24-h PWV independent of weight status. Graphical abstract.

Antimicrobial prophylaxis is recommended for the prevention of urinary tract infections (UTI) in high-risk children. However, there is growing concern about the use of β-lactams as prophylaxis and subsequent development of antibiotic resistance.In this prospective, randomized, crossover controlled trial we compared cotrimoxazole (SXT) and second-generation cephalosporins (2GC) as UTI prophylaxis in children ranging in age from 1 to 60 months. Eligible patients were 1:1 randomized to receive either SXT or 2GC for the initial 6-month period (1 course), then switched to the other antimicrobial agent class for the subsequent course, with switching continuing after each course until the end of the study. Urethral orifice cultures (UOCs) were obtained at the time of switching antimicrobial prophylaxis.Among 97 children (mean age 13.6 months) on prophylaxis, breakthrough UTIs occurred during 13.3 % (10/75) of SXT courses and 10.3 % (8/78) of 2GC courses (p = 0.62). 2GC failed earlier than SXT (mean ± standard error: 0.81 ± 0.1 vs. 2.37 ± 0.36 months, respectively; p = 0.028). Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterococcus spp. were more frequently isolated after 2GC courses than after SXT courses [22.6 vs. 4.8 % (p = 0.02) and 20.7 vs. 4.8 % (p = 0.035), respectively]. Prophylaxis with 2GC significantly increased resistance to both 2GC and SXT, while SXT prophylaxis did not affect susceptibility to 2GC.While SXT and 2GC appear to be equally efficacious as UTI prophylaxis in children, the latter exert a broader effect on patients' flora and development of bacterial resistance, suggesting that SXT may be more appropriate for UTI prophylaxis than 2GC.

Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS) is frequently associated with gene mutations in complement-regulatory proteins and activators. Different complement C3 gene mutations have been associated with different outcomes in aHUS. We report the case of a 21-year-old male with a C3 heterozygous gene mutation (p.Ile1157Thr) who developed aHUS at the age of 10 months and had six relapses, the last at the age of 14.5 years. Each relapse was characterized by an apparent predominance of hematological manifestations with milder renal involvement and was followed by complete recovery, with creatinine values and hematological parameters usually recovering after the 3rd to 6th day of hospitalization. The patient was treated with plasma infusion, apart from the initial and the last episode, when dialysis was needed. Twenty years after the onset, he retains normal renal function, with no proteinuria or hypertension. One similar case of highly recurrent aHUS carrying the same C3 mutation as our patient with recovery of renal function has been previously reported. We further support that aHUS associated with the p.Ile1157Thr C3 mutation may be highly recurrent, but with recovered renal function. The prevalent p.Ile1157Thr C3 gene mutation has variable disease manifestations and both severe and milder renal phenotypes have been found.

Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk of developing impaired bone quality. Our aim was to investigate changes of bone quality in children with CKD in relation to their treatmant using two imaging techniques-dual energy X-ray absorptiometry and quantitative ultraSonography (QUS). Thirty-three patients with CKD (18 boys and 15 girls, mean age 10.37 ± 3.37 years) were evaluated with bone mineral density (BMD) measured by DXA at the lumbar spine and hip and with speed of sound (SOS) measured by QUS at the radius and tibia at the beginning and at the end of the study. The patient cohort consisted of 14 patients with CKD stage 3-4 not treated with dialysis (CKD group), 5 patients on peritoneal dialysis treatment (PD group) and 14 patients after kidney transplantation (RTx group). BMD measurements did not show any significant changes in CKD and PD patients during the study. There was a reduction in BMD measured at the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip in RTx patients that was approaching significance. During the 2-year follow-up, SOS measurements at the radius decreased significantly in PD patients, whereas SOS measurements at the tibia significantly improved in RTx patients. No significant changes in QUS parameters were recorded for patients in the CKD group. In conclusion, our study shows that QUS parameters seem to better reflect the state of hyperparathyroidism of renal osteodystrophy as they deteriorate significantly in patients on dialysis and improve after renal transplantation.

99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scan is the golden standard for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis and renal scaring. We investigated the use of acute phase DMSA scan in infants presented promptly to the hospital because of the first episode of their febrile urinary tract infection (UTI).Ninety-eight infants with microbiologically confirmed first episode of febrile UTI were studied. DMSA scans were carried out within 7 days in these infants after admission. Infants with an abnormal acute DMSA scan underwent a second DMSA scan 6-12 months later.Overall, acute DMSA scan was abnormal in 16 (16.3%) of the 98 patients. There were no differences in sex, age, fever over 38.5°C, blood inflammation indices, or evidence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) between patients with normal and abnormal acute DMSA scan (P0.05). However, infants with grade III to V VUR as well as those with delayed treatment presented significantly increased renal involvement by acute DMSA scan (P0.05). The sensitivity and specificity of abnormal acute DMSA scan to predict grade III to V VUR were 50% and 88% respectively. Its positive and negative likelihood ratios were 4.16 and 0.57, respectively. Of 16 children with abnormal initial DMSA scan results, 14 underwent a second DMSA scan. Follow-up DMSA scans were normal in 12 of the 14 children.Parenchymal damage found in a minority of infants with febrile UTI presented promptly to the hospital. Acute phase DMSA scan should be carried out only in selected patients. An abnormal acute DMSA scan is a moderate predictor for dilated VUR and its ability to exclude VUR is restricted.

Our aim was to assess bone parameters in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with both dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) and quantitative ultrasonography (QUS) and additionally with biochemical markers of bone turnover. Twenty children (12 boys and 8 girls) with CKD and a mean decimal age of 9.47 +/- 4.44 years were included in the study where anthropometric parameters (height and weight), pubertal status, bone mineral density (BMD) at lumbar spine, speed of sound (SOS) measured by QUS at radius and at tibia, and biochemical markers of bone metabolism were measured. Six patients (30%) had tibial SOS Z score

We report an unusual case of serious, multifocal, invasive infection due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in a 10-year-old girl with favorable outcome. The child manifested femoral osteomyelitis, pyomyositis, deep femoral vein thrombosis, pneumonia, encephalopathy, and disturbances of almost all organs. She remained in a critical condition for a week. Fever persisted for 6 weeks and acute phase reactants remained increased for 6 months, necessitating a 7-month antistaphylococcal therapy with a glycopeptide and clindamycin. This led to resolution of infection-associated problems during the subsequent 36 months of follow-up. CA-MRSA strain isolated from the patient harbored both staphylococcal chromosomal cassette type IV (SCCmec type IV) and Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes. A literature review of serious CA-MRSA infections indicated that only a small minority of published cases had favorable outcome.

A 33-day-old male infant was admitted to the neonatal intensive care nursery because of respiratory distress, grunting, cyanosis, and radiological findings of bilateral bronchopneumonia. He responded well to intensive therapy, but 11 days later developed hemolytic uremic syndrome, which was treated conservatively with prednisone and plasma transfusions with good response. The hemolytic uremic syndrome resolved, but he subsequently developed severe recurrent infections of unknown etiology and died at the age of 78 days. Necropsy findings revealed necrotizing enterocolitis as well as dysplasia of the thymus and other lymphoid tissues, compatible with the diagnosis of immunodeficiency disorder. Pediatr Nephrol