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Kidney transplantation (KT) is the gold standard treatment for children with chronic kidney disease stage 5 (CKD5). It is easily accessible in well-resourced countries, but not in low/middle-income countries (LMICs). We present, a multicentre experience of paediatric KT of children domiciled in Nigeria. We aim to highlight the challenges and ethical dilemmas that children, their parents or guardians and health care staff face on a daily basis. A multicentre survey of Nigerian children who received KTs within or outside Nigeria from 1986 to 2019 was undertaken using a questionnaire emailed to all paediatric and adult consultants who are responsible for the care of children with kidney diseases in Nigeria. Demographic data, causes of CKD5, sources of funding, donor organs and graft and patient outcome were analysed. Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, we compared graft and patient survival. Twenty-two children, aged 4–18 years, received 23 KTs, of which 12 were performed in Nigeria. The male-to-female ratio was 3.4:1. Duration of pre-transplant haemodialysis was 4–48 months (median 7 months). Sixteen KTs were self-funded. State governments funded 3 philanthropists 4 KTs. Overall differences in graft and patient survival between the two groups, log rank test P = 0.68 and 0.40, respectively were not statistically significant. The transplant access rate for Nigerian children is dismal at

IntroductionHuman immunodeficiency virus and protein energy malnutrition are still prevalent in Nigeria and the occurrence of the two conditions together confers a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the current categories of malnutrition amongst under 5 children in Lagos, document their HIV status and determine any peculiarities in the clinical features, haematological and some biochemical profile in these children.MethodsThe study was a prospective crossectional study conducted at the Paediatric department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the Massey Street Children’s Hospital over a 6 month period. All the subjects had anthropometry, HIV testing, full blood count and serum proteins done. The factors associated with HIV status were determined with the logistic regression analysis.ResultsTwo hundred and fourteen (214) malnourished children ≤5 years were recruited into the study and 25(11.7%) were HIV positive. One hundred and five (49.1%) of the participants had moderate malnutrition while 25.2% had severe forms of malnutrition. Fever, cough and diarrhea were the commonest symptoms. Severe wasting, oral thrush, dermatoses and splenomegaly were seen more commonly in the HIV positive subjects. The haematological indices were comparable in the two groups, however, the total protein was significantly higher in the HIV positive subjects compared to the negative group (p=0.042). Multivariate analysis showed that the total protein (p=0.001) and platelet count (p=0.016) could significantly predict the occurrence of HIV in the malnourished childrenConclusionThe presence of severe wasting, oral thrush, diarrhea, splenomegaly, thrombocytopenia and high total proteins in malnourished children should heighten the suspicion of possible underlying associated HIV infection. This study reinforces the recommendation by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that all malnourished children should have mandatory HIV screening.

INTRODUCTION In resource-constraint regions of the world, the spectrum of childhood diseases is changing, creating a need to clearly define the epidemiology of severe acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS Medical records of children aged between 1 month and 17 years with stage 3 AKI in a tertiary hospital were reviewed. RESULTS Ninety-one children, comprising 63 (69.2%) males and 26 (28.6%) infants, were studied. Majority (75.8%) had stage 3 AKI at the point of hospitalization. Sepsis (41.8%), primary kidney diseases (PKD; 29.7%) and malaria (13.2%) were the most common causes of stage 3 AKI. Twenty-eight (30.8%) children died. Mortality was highest in those with sepsis, less than 5 years old and needing dialysis. CONCLUSION Sepsis, PKD and malaria were the most common causes of severe AKI. A third of children with severe AKI died. Mortality was highest in those less than 5 years old, with sepsis and needing dialysis.

Microsporidia are an emerging group of pathogens associated with life-threatening opportunistic infections in immunocompromised hosts, particularly human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals. There have, however, been recent reports of infection in adult solid organ transplant recipients. We report two cases in children, to our knowledge the first in the paediatric literature. Two 13-yr-old, HIV-seronegative females received deceased donor renal transplants from the same donor. Both patients suffered acute cell-mediated rejection and CMV infection reactivation, managed with intensified immunosuppression and ganciclovir. Pyrexia of unknown origin and intermittent diarrhea in both prompted extensive investigations. In both patients, numerous spores of a microsporidial species were demonstrated in renal tissue on biopsy and in the urine, using modified trichrome and quick-hot Gram-chromotrope staining. Electron microscopy and PCR confirmed Encephalitozoon cuniculi infections. Both patients were successfully treated with 400 mg twice daily of albendazole, with sustained clinical improvement. We recommend that microsporidiosis be considered in the differential diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown origin in severely immunocompromised pediatric solid organ transplant recipients, particularly when associated with diarrhea.

IntroductionInternational professional groups are supporting the training of physicians in developing countries in nephrology, including peritoneal dialysis (PD). This report documents the impact of such efforts in the provision of manual PD for children with acute kidney injury (AKI) in a public hospital in Lagos, Nigeria.MethodsMedical records of all children with AKI managed with PD between July 2010 and March 2013 were reviewed.ResultsSeventeen children with a mean (SEM) age of 3.8 (0.8) years received PD for 0 - 18 days; about half were infants. PD was provided manually, frequently with intercostal drains as catheters. Blockage of catheters and peritonitis occurred in 4 (23.5%) and 2 (11.8%) children, respectively. Eight (47.1%) of the 17 children had resolution of AKI and were discharged from hospital. In 4 (57.1%) of the 7 children who died, PD was performed for ≤ 2 days.ConclusionPD for childhood AKI is feasible in resource-constrained regions with fairly good outcome. Blockage of catheter was the most common complication encountered.

The influence of disease duration and glycemic control on cardiac function in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients remains controversial. There is little data on young patients in the Sub-Saharan continent. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of disease duration and glycemic control on the cardiac function of children and adolescents with diabetes using echocardiography. In this cross sectional study, 26 T1DM subjects and 33 matched controls had conventional echocardiography done. The relationship between their cardiac parameters, disease duration and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level was assessed with correlation and regression analysis. Five (19.2 %) subjects had evidence of abnormal fractional shortening. There was no significant difference in systolic function between the diabetics and controls. The isovolumic relaxation time and Deceleration time were significantly prolonged in the diabetics (P = 0.034, P = 0.001 respectively). There was a significant correlation between disease duration and end diastolic diameter (EDD) (P = 0.000) and Left ventricular mass (P = 0.000). Disease duration was also an independent predictor of EDD (P = 0.007), even after adjusting for age, body mass index and mean arterial pressure. There were no significant correlations between HbA1c and measures of cardiac structure or function. The right ventricular diastolic function was poorer in the T1DM subjects compared to the controls. Thus, the disease duration independently predicts left ventricular enlargement in this population of Sub-Saharan youths (who have relatively poor glycemic control).

Background: Current methods of detection of childhood hypertension are cumbersome and contribute to under‑diagnosis hence, the need to generate simpler diagnostic tools. The blood pressure to height ratio has recently been proposed as a novel screening tool for prehypertension and hypertension in some populations. We evaluated its applicability in our environment.Materials and Methods: The weights, heights, and blood pressure measurements of 2364 apparently healthy adolescents were determined. Sex‑specific systolic and diastolic blood pressure to height ratios (SBPHR) and (DBPHR) were calculated, and their ability to detect prehypertension and hypertension was determined using receiver operating curves. Discriminatory ability was measured by the area under the curve (AUC) and optimal cutoff points along the curve were determined. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The SBPHR and DBPHR were similar across all age groups and sexes. The AUC of SBPHR and DBPHR for diagnosing prehypertension and hypertension by sex was >0.95 for both diastolic and systolic hypertension in both sexes. It ranged between 0.803 and 0.922 for prehypertension and 0.954–0.978 for hypertension indicating higher accuracy for hypertension. Sensitivity was higher for systolic and diastolic hypertension (90–98%) compared with prehypertension (87–98%). Specificity was lower than sensitivity across all categories of hypertension and prehypertension (0.64–0.88%) though higher for hypertension (0.75–0.88) compared with prehypertension (0.64–0.75).Conclusion: BPHR is a useful screening tool for prehypertension and hypertension in black adolescents. Accuracy increased with higher degrees of hypertension.Keywords: Adolescents, blood pressure, height, hypertension

Background: The clinical course of steroid‑sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) among Nigerian children has rarely been reported; this makes prognostication difficult. Objectives : The objective was to determine the frequency of relapses including frequent relapses (FR) and steroid‑dependence (SD) in a cohort of Nigerian children with SSNS. A secondary objective was to identify clinical and demographic factors associated with relapse in these children. Methods : Medical records of children with SSNS in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria were reviewed. Children with onset of nephrotic syndrome (NS) at age

Introduction Children with steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome usually require treatment with second-line agents and calcineurin inhibitors such as cyclosporine are now recommended as initial therapy. These agents only recently become available in our environment and their impact on care is unknown. We reviewed the short-term treatment outcomes of their use in comparison with previous outcomes. Methods Medical records of children managed for idiopathic steroid resistant nephrotic syndrome over a 5 year period were reviewed. Remission rates and improvement in renal function following use of various agents were compared. Results Of 103 children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, 25(24.3%) were steroid resistant, of whom 17 received additional medications. Full remission rate for cyclosporine was 70% (7/10). Remission rates prior to the availability of cyclosporine were 40% (2/5) for cyclophosphamide and 66% (2/3), (partial remission only) with enalapril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor used in combination with alternate day prednisolone. One child with cyclophosphamide resistance subsequently achieved remission with cyclosporine. Remission was not related to sex (p=0.96), age (p=0.54), serum albumin (p=0.37) or hypertension (p=0.43) but to serum cholesterol (p= 0.02). The estimated glomerular filteration rate (eGFR) among children treated with cyclosporine ranged from 30-167 ml/min/1.73m2 as follows: >90 (5); 60-89 (3); 30-59 (2) while the mean pre and post treatment eGFR in those with eGFR

In 2008, several Nigerian children developed acute kidney injury (AKI) after ingesting teething syrup contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG). Because there are limited diagnostic facilities in resource-constrained countries, this study investigated whether AKI associated with DEG could be identified by other means.This was a multicenter study. Information was obtained from hospital records. Clinicopathological features of all children with AKI over a 6-month period were reviewed.Sixty (50.4%) of 119 children ingested "My pikin" teething syrup. Compared to children who had not ingested it, they were significantly (p 0.05) younger (11.95 vs. 31 months), more were anuric (98.3 vs. 74.6%), hypertensive (84 vs. 52%), had severe metabolic acidosis (46.7 vs. 20.5%), and died (96.6 vs. 71.2%). They developed increasing metabolic acidosis and multiorgan dysfunction despite peritoneal dialysis. Late presentation, financial difficulties, inadequate facilities for toxicology, and hemodialysis complicated management.Identifying AKI associated with DEG is difficult. Detailed drug history, increasing metabolic acidosis, and multiorgan deterioration despite peritoneal dialysis should arouse suspicion. Simple diagnostic tests need to be developed and facilities for hemodialysis of infants and financial support provided. Recurrences can be prevented by creating awareness, improving manufacturing practices, field-testing of drugs, and international monitoring of pharmaceuticals imported for manufacture.

Summary Introduction Childhood enuresis is common, but the prevalence and factors associated with childhood enuresis in Africa have been poorly described. Furthermore, most studies from the continent have not provided data distinguishing monosymptomatic from non-monosymptomatic enuresis. This distinction is important as it guides enuresis therapy. Objectives The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of enuresis in children aged 5–17 years in a community in Nigeria. The secondary objectives were to determine the relative proportions of monosymptomatic and non-monosymptomatic enuresis and identify independent sociodemographic and clinical predictors of enuresis. Study design Parents or guardians in the community were interviewed using a pretested questionnaire. Standardized definitions were used, as recommended by the International Children's Continence Society. Results A total of 928 children were included in the study. The prevalence of enuresis or daytime incontinence and enuresis was 28.3% (enuresis 24.4%, and daytime incontinence and enuresis 4%); it decreased with age. Primary and monosymptomatic enuresis were the most common types of enuresis. In multiple logistic regressions, children aged 5–9 years were 10.41 (5.14–21.05) times more likely to have enuresis or daytime incontinence and enuresis compared with those aged 14–17 years. Other predictors of enuresis or daytime incontinence and enuresis were: male gender (OR 1.56 (1.13–2.14)); constipation (OR 2.56 (1.33–4.93)); and a sibling (OR 2.20 (1.58–3.06)) or parent (OR 3.14 (2.13–4.63)) with enuresis. Enuresis or daytime incontinence and enuresis was 1.92 (1.06–3.48) times more likely in fourth-born, or higher, children compared with first-born children. Only parents of nine (3.4%) children with enuresis had consulted a medical doctor about it. Discussion The high prevalence of childhood enuresis in the present study was consistent with most studies from developing countries and contrasted sharply with the lower rates reported among children in developed countries. Common reasons for this disparity were the influence of socioeconomic status on enuresis rates and the low utilization of effective enuresis therapies in developing countries. Consistent with published literature, monosymptomatic enuresis was the commonest form of enuresis in the present study. Furthermore, younger age, male gender and a family history of enuresis were strongly associated with enuresis. A major limitation of the study was the lack of use of a voiding diary. Conclusion Childhood enuresis was common in the community but parents rarely sought medical attention. Predictors of enuresis were younger age, male gender, constipation, higher birth order, and a family history of enuresis.

Insufficient data to guide the authorities responsible for resource allocation and a focus on communicable diseases increase the challenges of care of children with kidney disease in resource-constrained settings like ours. This study was performed with the aim to describe the current spectrum of pediatric nephrology disease in a tertiary hospital in Sub-Saharan Africa and highlight the challenges encountered in their care. A 4-year retrospective review of pediatric renal admissions was carried out and the overall prevalence, disease-specific prevalence and mortality rates were determined. Results were compared with nationwide data. Kidney diseases accounted for 8.9% of pediatric admissions with a prevalence of 22.3 admissions per 1000 child-admissions per year. Nephrotic syndrome, acute kidney injury and nephroblastoma accounted for almost 70% of admissions. The overall mortality was 14.4% with acute kidney injury accounting for 36% of this. Chronic kidney disease was also associated with poor outcome. The spectrum of disease nationwide is similar with a wide variation in disease-specific prevalence between geographic regions. The prevalence of genetic and hereditary conditions was low. The prevalence of pediatric renal disease in our environment is on the increase and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Late presentation and high treatment costs were limitations to care. Preventive nephrology, training of pediatric nephrologists and strengthening of health insurance schemes are advocated.

Surgery for reno-vascular hypertension (RVH) is complex, and the techniques utilized vary with anatomical presentations of the disease. The long-term outcome of revascularization on RVH in children with Takayasu's arteritis (TA)-induced renal artery stenosis (RAS) at our centre was reviewed.This study was a 21-year retrospective review of pre- and post-intervention RVH in children with angiographically confirmed RAS. The outcome of hypertension was defined as follows: (1) cured (normotensive off anti-hypertensives), (2) improved (normotensive on same or reduced number of medications), or (3) failure (no cure or improvement in number of medications).The medical histories of 59 children (median age 9.98 years) were reviewed, of whom 20 (44 %) had revascularization procedures. All were hypertensive, with a mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 161.5 ± 36 and 106.5 ± 31 mmHg, respectively. RAS was present in 45 (76.3 %) children. Twenty-four revascularization procedures were performed in 20 children (44 %), of whom five had contralateral nephrectomies. Outcome was available for 17 patients at the 3- and 6-months follow-up, with cure, improvement and failure rates at 3 months of 2/17 (11.8 %), 7/17 (41.2 %) and 8/19 (47 %), respectively, and similar rates at 6 months. Associations between outcome and age (p = 0.51), sex (p = 0.32), number of pre-surgery anti-hypertensives (p = 0.18) and stenosis sites (p = 0.22) were not statistically significant.Revascularization was beneficial to the management of blood pressure control in about half of our RVH patients.

Background Childhood obesity and associated hypertension are major public health concerns globally. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity and the associated risk of high blood pressure among Nigerian adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional school-based study of 885 apparently healthy adolescents was performed. Weight, height and blood pressure (BP) were measured using standard methods. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and categorized by age, sex and percentile. Obesity and overweight were defined as: ≥ 95th and 85th to < 95th percentiles, respectively, for age, sex and height. Subjects were sub-categorized into age 10–13 years (A) and 14–17 years (B). The odds ratio for pre-hypertensive and hypertensive range BP by age and BMI were generated. Significance was set at P Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 13.8% and 9.4%, respectively. The prevalence of hypertensive range systolic BP in obese versus normal BMI females was 16% versus 23% (p=0.00) and 12.1% versus 6.4% (p=0.27) in males. The prevalence of hypertensive range diastolic BP in obese versus normal BMI females was 12% versus 1.4% (p=0.00) and 15.2% versus 3.5% (p=0.01) in males. BMI in group B was significantly associated with pre-hypertensive and hypertensive range systolic BP in overweight (P = 0.01, P = 0.002) and obese subjects (P = 0.00, P = 0.00) and with hypertensive range diastolic BP (P = 0.00) only in obese subjects. The only significant association in group A was between obesity and pre-hypertensive range diastolic BP (P = 0.00). Conclusion The prevalence of hypertensive range BP among obese Nigerian adolescents was high. Screening for childhood obesity and hypertension, and long-term follow-up of obese adolescents into adulthood are recommended.

Summary Hepatitis B virus is a well described cause of nephrotic syndrome (NS) worldwide, the typical lesion being membranous glomerulonephropathy. HBV associated NS has been successfully treated with intravenous alpha interferon (IFN), an anti-viral agent. In recent times there have been reports of treatment with lamivudine, an orally administered nucleoside analogue inhibitor of HBV DNA polymerase in Caucasian children. Data is however limited and it’s actual efficacy and safety in children is yet to be determined. We present the case of an 8-year-old Nigerian boy with NS and active hepatitis B virus infection. He went into remission 3 months after commencing oral lamivudine which he had for a year with no significant side effects observed. He remains in remission 3 years later. This, to our knowledge is the first report in literature of successful treatment in an African child.