The 2023 Türkiye-Syria earthquakes: analysis of pediatric victims with crush syndrome and acute kidney Injury.

BACKGROUND: On February 6th, 2023, two consecutive earthquakes struck southeastern Türkiye with magnitudes of 7.7 and 7.6, respectively. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and laboratory findings, as well as management of pediatric victims with Crush Syndrome (CS) and Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). METHODS: The study included pediatric earthquake victims who were presented to Mersin University Hospital. Clinical and laboratory characteristics of the patients were collected retrospectively. RESULTS: Among 649 patients, Crush injury (CI), CS and AKI was observed in 157, 59, and 17 patients, respectively. White blood cell count (12,870 [IQR: 9910-18700] vs. 10,545 [IQR: 8355-14057] /µL, P < 0.001), C-reactive protein (51.27 [IQR: 14.80-88.78] vs. 4.59 [1.04-18.25] mg/L, P < 0.001) and myoglobin levels (443.00 [IQR: 198.5-1759.35] vs. 17 [11.8-30.43] ng/ml) were higher in patients with CS, while their sodium (IQR: 134 [131-137] vs. 136 [134-138] mEq/L, P < 0.001) levels were lower compared to non-CS patients. An increase in myoglobin levels was identified as an independent risk factor for developing CS (OR = 1.017 [1.006-1.027]). Intravenous fluid replacement was administered to the patients with CS at a dose of 4000 cc/m2/day. Hypokalemia was observed in 51.9% of the CS patients on the third day. All patients with AKI showed improvement and no deaths were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Hyponatremia and increase in inflammation markers associated with CS may be observed. An increase in myoglobin levels was identified as a risk factor for CS. Hypokalemia may be seen as a complication of vigorous fluid therapy during hospitalization.

Comparison of infants and children with urolithiasis: a large case series.

We evaluated the demographic features, etiologic risk factors, treatment strategies, and outcome of the infants and children with urolithiasis (UL). A retrospective multicenter study was conducted including 23 Pediatric Nephrology centers in Turkey. The medical records of 2513 children with UL were reviewed. One thousand, three hundred and four boys and 1209 girls (1.1:1) were reported. The mean age at diagnosis was 39.5 ± 35 months (0.4-231 months), and 1262 patients (50.2%) were in the first year of life (infants). Most of the cases with infantile UL were diagnosed incidentally. Microlithiasis (< 3 mm) was found in 794 patients (31.6%), and 64.5% of the patients with microlithiasis were infants. Stones were located in the pelvis-calyces in 63.2% (n: 1530) of the cases. The most common stone type was calcium oxalate (64.6%). Hypocitraturia was the most common metabolic risk factor (MRF) in children older than 12 months, but in infancy, hypercalciuria was more common. Fifty-five percent of the patients had received at least one medical treatment, mostly potassium citrate. At the end of a year's follow-up, most of the patients with microlithiasis (85%) showed spontaneous remission. The rate of spontaneous stone resolution in infants was higher than in children. Spontaneous remission rate was higher in cases with MRF ( - ) stones than in MRF ( +) stones. However, remission rate with medical treatment was higher in cases with MRF ( +) stones. This study represents the results of a large series of infants and children with UL and showed that there are several differences such as underlying metabolic and anatomic abnormalities, clinical course, and stone remission rates between infants and children with urinary stone disease.

Kidney disease profile and encountered problems during follow-up in Syrian refugee children: a multicenter retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in conflict zones, especially those with chronic diseases. This study aimed to investigate kidney disease profiles and problems during follow-up in a population of Syrian refugee children residing in Turkey. METHODS: Syrian refugee children aged between 0 and 18 years were included in the study. Demographic data, diagnosis, particular interventions due to nephrological problems, and problems encountered during follow-up were obtained from all participating pediatric nephrology centers. RESULTS: Data from 633 children from 22 pediatric nephrology centers were included. Mean age of the children was 94.8 ± 61.7 months and 375 were male (59%). 57.7% had parental consanguinity and 23.3% had a close relative(s) with kidney disease. The most common kidney diseases were congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) (31.0%), glomerular disease (19.9%), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (14.8%), and urolithiasis (10.7%). Frequent reasons for CAKUT were nonobstructive hydronephrosis (23.0%), vesico-ureteral reflux (18.4%), and neurogenic bladder (15.8%). The most common etiology of glomerular diseases was nephrotic syndrome (69%). Ninety-four children had CKD, and 58 children were on chronic dialysis. Six children had kidney transplantation. Surgical intervention was performed on 111 patients. The language barrier, lack of medical records, and frequent disruptions in periodic follow-ups were the main problems noted. CONCLUSIONS: CAKUT, glomerular disease, and CKD were highly prevalent in Syrian refugee children. Knowing the frequency of chronic diseases and the problems encountered in refugees would facilitate better treatment options and preventive measures.

COVID-19 in pediatric nephrology centers in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: There is limited data on COVID-19 disease in children with kidney disease. We aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of COVID-19 in pediatric nephrology patients in Turkey. METHODS: This was a national, multicenter, retrospective cohort study based on an online survey evaluating the data between 11th March 2020 and 11th March 2021 as an initial step of a detailed pediatric nephrology COVID-19 registry. RESULTS: Two hundred and three patients (89 girls and 114 boys) were diagnosed with COVID-19. One-third of these patients (36.9%) were between 10-15 years old. Half of the patients were on kidney replacement therapy: kidney transplant (KTx) recipients (n = 56, 27.5%), patients receiving chronic hemodialysis (n = 33, 16.3%) and those on peritoneal dialysis (PD) (n = 18, 8.9%). Fifty-four (26.6%) children were asymptomatic. Eighty-two (40.3%) patients were hospitalized and 23 (28%) needed intensive care unit admission. Fifty-five percent of the patients were not treated, while the remaining was given favipiravir (20.7%), steroid (16.3%), and hydroxychloroquine (11.3%). Acute kidney injury developed in 19.5% of hospitalized patients. Five (2.4%) had MIS-C. Eighty-three percent of the patients were discharged without any apparent sequelae, while 7 (3.4%) died. One hundred and eight health care staff were infected during the study period. DISCUSSION: COVID-19 was most commonly seen in patients who underwent KTx and received HD. The combined immunosuppressive therapy and frequent exposure to the hospital setting may increase these patients' susceptibility. Staff infections before vaccination era were alarming, various precautions should be taken for infection control, particularly optimal vaccination coverage.

A nationwide retrospective study in Turkish children with nephrocalcinosis.

BACKGROUND: Nephrocalcinosis (NC) is defined as calcium deposition in the kidney parenchyma and tubules. This study aims to determine the etiology, risk factors, and follow-up results of patients with NC in Turkey. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with NC in the pediatric nephrology Department Units of 19 centers from all geographical regions of Turkey over a 10-year period (2010-2019) were included in the study. The medical records from the centers were reviewed and demographic data, admission complaints, medical history, systemic and genetic disorders, risk factors for NC, treatment details, and presence of NC after one-year follow-up, were recorded retrospectively. RESULTS: The study sample included 195 patients (88 females, 107 males). The mean age at diagnosis was 39.44 ± 47.25 (0.5-208) months; 82/190 patients (43.2%) were diagnosed incidentally; 46/195 patients (23.6%) had an underlying disease; idiopathic hypercalciuria was detected in 75/195 (38.4%) patients. The most common systemic diseases were distal renal tubular acidosis in 11/46 patients (23.9%), primary hyperoxaluria in 9/46 patients (19.6%) and Bartter syndrome in 7/46 patients (15.3%). After one year of follow-up, NC resolved in 56/159 patients (35.2%) and they all did not have an underlying systemic disease. DISCUSSION: The most common presentation of NC was incidental. Distal renal tubular acidosis and primary hyperoxaluria were the main systemic diseases leading to NC, while hypercalciuria was the most common metabolic risk factor. Nephrocalcinosis was found to remain in most of the patients at a one-year follow-up. It may resolve particularly in patients with no underlying systemic disease.

The impact of surgical intervention on renal function in cystinuria / O impacto da intervenção cirúrgica sobre a função renal na cistinúria

ABSTRACT Introduction: Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder due to intestinal and renal transport defects in cystine and dibasic amino acids, which result in recurrent urolithiasis and surgical interventions. This study aimed to assess the impact of surgical interventions on renal function by analyzing estimated glomerular filtration rates. Methods: Thirteen pediatric patients with cystinuria, who were followed-up in a single tertiary institution between 2004 and 2016, were included in the study. Medical records were reviewed to collect data on clinical presentation of patients, urine parameters, stone formation, medical treatment, surgical intervention, stone recurrence after surgical procedure, stone analysis, ultrasonography, 99m-technetium dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA) radionuclide imaging results, and follow-up time. Creatinine clearances estimated by modified Schwartz (eGFR) formula before and after surgery were used to assess renal function and compared statistically. Results: Nine patients (69.2%) had renal scarring which were detected with 99mTc-DMSA radionuclide imaging. In ten patients (76.9%), open surgical intervention for stones were needed during follow-up. Significant difference was not detected between eGFR before and after surgical intervention (mean 92 versus 106, p = 0.36). Nine of the patients (69.2%) were stone free in the last ultrasonographic examination. Relapses of stone after surgery were seen in 66.6% of patients who underwent surgical intervention. Conclusions: Surgical interventions for urinary stones are commonly required in patients with cystinuria. Renal scarring is a prevalent finding in cystinuric patients. Surgical interventions have no negative impact on eGFR in patients with cystinuria according to the present study.

RESUMO Introdução: A cistinúria é um distúrbio autossômico recessivo causado por defeitos de transporte intestinal e renal da cistina e aminoácidos dibásicos que resultam em urolitíase recorrente e necessidade de intervenção cirúrgica. O presente estudo teve por objetivo avaliar o impacto das intervenções cirúrgicas sobre a função renal por meio da análise da taxa de filtração glomerular estimada. Métodos: Treze pacientes pediátricos com cistinúria acompanhados em uma instituição terciária entre 2004 e 2016 foram incluídos no estudo. Os prontuários médicos foram analisados e utilizados como fonte de dados sobre a apresentação clínica dos pacientes, parâmetros urinários, formação de cálculos, tratamento clínico, intervenção cirúrgica, recidiva de cálculos após procedimento cirúrgico, análise de cálculos, ultrassonografia, resultados de imagens com ácido dimercaptossuccínico marcado com tecnécio metaestável (99mTc-DMSA) e tempo de seguimento. A depuração de creatinina estimada pela fórmula modificada de Schwartz (TFGe) antes e após a cirurgia foi utilizada para avaliar e comparar estatisticamente os níveis de função renal. Resultados: Nove pacientes (69,2%) apresentaram cicatrizes renais detectadas por exame de imagem com 99mTc-DMSA. Dez pacientes (76,9%) necessitaram intervenção cirúrgica aberta por cálculo renal durante o seguimento. Não foram detectadas diferenças significativas entre os valores de TFGe anteriores e posteriores à intervenção cirúrgica (média de 92 vs. 106, p = 0,36). Nove pacientes (69,2%) não apresentaram cálculos no último exame ultrassonográfico. Recidivas de cálculos renais após cirurgia foram observadas em 66,6% dos pacientes submetidos a cirurgia. Conclusões: Intervenções cirúrgicas relativas a cálculos renais são frequentemente necessárias em pacientes com cistinúria. Cicatrizes renais são um achado prevalente em pacientes com cistinúria. De acordo com o presente estudo, cirurgia não afeta negativamente a TFGe de pacientes com cistinúria.

The impact of surgical intervention on renal function in cystinuria.

INTRODUCTION: Cystinuria is an autosomal recessive disorder due to intestinal and renal transport defects in cystine and dibasic amino acids, which result in recurrent urolithiasis and surgical interventions. This study aimed to assess the impact of surgical interventions on renal function by analyzing estimated glomerular filtration rates. METHODS: Thirteen pediatric patients with cystinuria, who were followed-up in a single tertiary institution between 2004 and 2016, were included in the study. Medical records were reviewed to collect data on clinical presentation of patients, urine parameters, stone formation, medical treatment, surgical intervention, stone recurrence after surgical procedure, stone analysis, ultrasonography, 99m-technetium dimercaptosuccinic acid (99mTc-DMSA) radionuclide imaging results, and follow-up time. Creatinine clearances estimated by modified Schwartz (eGFR) formula before and after surgery were used to assess renal function and compared statistically. RESULTS: Nine patients (69.2%) had renal scarring which were detected with 99mTc-DMSA radionuclide imaging. In ten patients (76.9%), open surgical intervention for stones were needed during follow-up. Significant difference was not detected between eGFR before and after surgical intervention (mean 92 versus 106, p = 0.36). Nine of the patients (69.2%) were stone free in the last ultrasonographic examination. Relapses of stone after surgery were seen in 66.6% of patients who underwent surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical interventions for urinary stones are commonly required in patients with cystinuria. Renal scarring is a prevalent finding in cystinuric patients. Surgical interventions have no negative impact on eGFR in patients with cystinuria according to the present study.