Quality of Life and Psychological Well-Being in Children and Adolescents After Renal Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Kidney transplantation is the predominant treatment option in patients with end-stage renal disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the presence of a psychiatric disorder on the quality of life in children and adolescents after kidney transplantation. METHODS: A total of 43 patients aged 6 to 18 years were included in the study. All participants and their parents were asked to complete the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), and families only, the Strengths and Challenges Questionnaire. Psychiatric symptoms and disorders of the patients were evaluated according to the Schedule for Mood Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Age Children/Now and Lifetime Turkish Version. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to psychiatric symptoms and disorders. RESULTS: The most common psychiatric disorder was attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (26%). The questionnaires filled out by the patients revealed a lower Total PedsQL Score (P = .003), PedsQL Physical Functionality Score (P = .019), and PedsQL Social Functioning Score (P = .016) in patients with psychiatric disorders. When the parents filled out the questionnaires, the Total PedsQL Score was similar in both groups. The PedsQL Emotional Functionality Score (P = .001) and PedsQL School Functionality Score (P = .004) were significantly lower in patients with psychiatric disorders. The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire revealed significantly higher total (P = .014) and hyperactivity/inattention subscale scores (P = .001) in those with a psychiatric disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric disorders in kidney transplant patients adversely affect the quality of life.

Role of Systemic Inflammatory Markers in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII = N × P/L), and neutrophil percentage-albumin ratio (NPAR) have become accepted markers of inflammation in recent years. These indices are used as indicators of disease activity, mortality, and morbidity in many diseases. This study evaluated the relationship between inflammatory indices and graft function in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. METHODS: Medical records of pediatric patients who underwent kidney transplantation at Ege University between 1995 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were recorded during the third month, first year, and fifth year of transplantation and at the last visit. RESULTS: The median age of the 119 patients (60 boys/59 girls) at the time of transplantation was 154 months, and the median follow-up period was 101 months. According to Spearman correlation analysis, patients' final creatinine levels were positively correlated with NLR (r = 0.319), PLR (r = 0.219), SII (r = 0.214), and NPAR (r = 0.347) of the last visit; final estimate glomerular filtration rate levels were negatively correlated with NLR (P = .010, r = -0.250) and NPAR (P = .004, r = -0.277). The median NPAR of the patients with chronic allograft dysfunction at the last visit was found to be statistically significantly higher than without (P = .032). CONCLUSION: NLR, PLR, SII, and NPAR values are correlated with creatinine levels after 5 years of kidney transplantation. The NPAR and final creatinine levels had the highest correlation coefficient among these inflammatory markers. These results suggest that inflammatory markers, especially NPAR, may be a candidate to be an indicator of ongoing inflammation in the graft.

Long-term kidney outcomes in children after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation assessed with estimated glomerular filtration rate equations, creatinine levels, and cystatin C levels / Desfechos renais a longo prazo em crianças após transplante alogênico de células-tronco hematopoiéticas avaliados com equações de taxa de filtração glomerular estimada, níveis de creatinina e níveis de cistatina C

Abstract Background and objective: With the widespread use of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), long-term complications have come to the fore. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) developing in the long term in patients who underwent allo-HSCT in childhood and also to investigate the superiority of eGFR formulas. Methods: The present study evaluated CKD in patients who underwent allo-HSCT. We analyzed the 94 children who received allo-HSCT at the Ege University in İzmir between August and November, 2019. The patients were evaluated at 2 years after transplantation. CKD was defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <90 mL/min/1.73 m2 using eGFR equations based on serum creatinine (SCr), cystatin C (CysC), and SCr plus CysC. Results: In our study, 9 (9.4%), according to Bedside Schwartz, 59 (76.6%), according to CKiD-eGFR-CysC, and 20 (26%) patients, according to CKiD-eGFR-SCr-CysC equations were identified with CKD. In cases identifies as CKD according to CysC, early development of acute kidney injury (AKI), post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and being >120 months during transplantation were found to be associated with the development of CKD. Conclusion: We may be delayed in detecting CKD by calculating SCr-based formulas in allo-HSCT cases, which is a patient group where early diagnosis and treatment of CKD is very important.

Resumo Antecedentes e objetivo: Com o uso generalizado do transplante alogênico de células-tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH-alo), as complicações a longo prazo tornaram-se evidentes. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a prevalência e os fatores de risco do desenvolvimento de doença renal crônica (DRC) a longo prazo em pacientes submetidos a TCTH-alo na infância, e também investigar a superioridade das fórmulas de TFGe. Métodos: O presente estudo avaliou a DRC em pacientes que foram submetidos ao TCTH-alo. Analisamos as 94 crianças que receberam TCTH-alo na Universidade Ege em İzmir entre Agosto e Novembro de 2019. Os pacientes foram avaliados aos 2 anos após o transplante. A DRC foi definida como uma taxa de filtração glomerular (TFG) <90 mL/min/1,73 m2 usando equações de TFGe baseadas em creatinina sérica (CrS), cistatina C (CisC), e CrS mais CisC. Resultados: Em nosso estudo, 9 pacientes (9,4%), de acordo com a equação de Schwartz (à beira do leito), 59 (76,6%), de acordo com a equação DRC-TFGe-CisC, e 20 (26%) pacientes, de acordo com a equação DRC-TFGe-CrS-CisC, foram classificados com DRC. Quando a TFG é avaliada pela CisC, verificamos que o desenvolvimento precoce de lesão renal aguda (LRA), a reativação do citomegalovírus (CMV) pós-transplante e ter >120 meses durante o transplante foram associados ao desenvolvimento de DRC. Conclusão: Pode haver atraso na detecção da DRC quando usamos fórmulas baseadas em CrS em casos de TCTH-alo, que é um grupo de pacientes onde o diagnóstico e tratamento precoces da DRC são muito importantes.

Effects of Body Mass Index Changes In Pediatric Kidney Transplant Patients.

BACKGROUND: The negative effects of pretransplant obesity and post-transplant body mass index (BMI) increase on graft survival have been reported in recent years. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of BMI changes on post-transplant graft function, lipid profile, and blood pressure. METHODS: The study included 133 pediatric patients transplanted between 1994 and 2019 in Ege University. BMI Z-scores (BMIZs) were calculated according to age and sex before and after transplantation using the World Health Organization criteria. Patients with BMIZs >+1 standard deviation (SD) were defined as overweight, and those with BMIZs >+2 SD were defined as obese: Group 1: Obese or overweight before transplantation; Group 2: Thin or normal weight before and 2 years after transplantation; and Group 3: Thin or normal weight before transplantation and obese or overweight 2 years after transplantation. RESULTS: At the time of transplantation 8% of the patients were overweight, and 1% were obese. Overweight and obesity statistically significantly increased (31.6%) 2 years after renal transplantation (P = .001). Obese and overweight patients have lower high-density lipoprotein levels and were younger at the time of transplantation. Graft functions, lipid levels, and blood glucose levels of the groups were similar (P > .05). The only significant difference between the groups was that Group 1 patients were younger than Group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Obesity develops at a significant rate in pediatric patients after renal transplantation. In this study, we could not demonstrate negative effects of obesity and being overweight in terms of post-transplant graft function, lipid profile, blood glucose, and blood pressure.

Long-term kidney outcomes in children after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation assessed with estimated glomerular filtration rate equations, creatinine levels, and cystatin C levels.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: With the widespread use of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), long-term complications have come to the fore. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) developing in the long term in patients who underwent allo-HSCT in childhood and also to investigate the superiority of eGFR formulas. METHODS: The present study evaluated CKD in patients who underwent allo-HSCT. We analyzed the 94 children who received allo-HSCT at the Ege University in Izmir between August and November, 2019. The patients were evaluated at 2 years after transplantation. CKD was defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <90 mL/min/1.73 m2 using eGFR equations based on serum creatinine (SCr), cystatin C (CysC), and SCr plus CysC. RESULTS: In our study, 9 (9.4%), according to Bedside Schwartz, 59 (76.6%), according to CKiD-eGFR-CysC, and 20 (26%) patients, according to CKiD-eGFR-SCr-CysC equations were identified with CKD. In cases identifies as CKD according to CysC, early development of acute kidney injury (AKI), post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV) reactivation and being >120 months during transplantation were found to be associated with the development of CKD. CONCLUSION: We may be delayed in detecting CKD by calculating SCr-based formulas in allo-HSCT cases, which is a patient group where early diagnosis and treatment of CKD is very important.

Low-density lipoprotein and blood pressure are important risk factors for vasculopathy in children on dialysis: A single center study.

INTRODUCTION: We searched for risk factors of cardiovascular assessment among children on dialysis. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study of cardiovascular assessment of all patients on dialysis at Ege University Children's Hospital. Pediatric patients between the ages of 6 and 21 who were on HD and peritoneal dialysis treatment were included in the study. Cardiovascular evaluation included left ventricular mass index (LVMI), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) measurements. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were included in this study. The LDL had a correlation with the cIMT z-score, but not to PWVz-score. Binary Logistic regression analysis found that only LDL was significantly associated to increased cIMT. CONCLUSION: This study reports an association between high LDL and high BP increased cIMT on dialyzed children. Strategies to reduce LDL and BP in dialysis patients may prevent vasculopathy and long-term cardiovascular complications.

Cytomegalovirus Experience in Pediatric Kidney Transplantation in 26 Years' Time.

INTRODUCTION: In this study,we investigated the presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in kidney transplanted children and its effect on kidney dysfunction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred thirty-five pediatric renal transplant patients were included in this study. The presence of CMV infection, CMV risk status, and other clinical features of the patients were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Fifty-three percent of all patients and 68.8% of patients with CMV were male. The mean age was 12 years in all patients and CMV groups. According to the CMV risk classification, 40.9% of the patients with CMV infection/disease were in the high-risk group (CMV D+R-). In CMV risk groups, the presence of CMV infection/disease was similar. Cold ischemia time, male sex (patients and donors), deceased donor, higher HLA-mismatches, and cumulative antithymocyte globulin dose were found as risk factors for CMV infection/disease. Acute rejection/graft failure was observed in 27% of all patients. CMV infection has no effect on rejection/graft failure and survival. DISCUSSION: The frequency and risk factors of CMV in renal transplant children in our study were consistent with the literature. CONCLUSIONS: CMV infection was found in one-fifth of our patients and the majority (71.9%) of them developed infection in the first 6 months. In one-third of our patients acute rejection/graft failure was observed. There was no effect of CMV infection on rejection/graft failure and survival in pediatric patients with proper and effective treatment.

Pediatric Kidney Transplantation in Patients With Urologic Anomalies.

INTRODUCTION: and Aim. End-stage renal disease owing to structural urologic anomalies is frequent in the pediatric population. Impaired bladder function is thought to have a negative effect on graft function and survival. The aim of this study was to present our single-center experience and long-term follow-up results in pediatric patients who underwent renal transplantation for urologic reasons and to compare graft survival among patients who underwent transplantation for nonurologic reasons. METHOD: The paper records of renal transplanted children (<18 years of age) held by Ege University Medical Faculty between 1998 and 2018 were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with normal bladder function who underwent transplantation for urologic reasons were defined as group A, whereas patients who had impaired bladder function and underwent transplantation for urologic reasons were defined as group B; a control group was defined as group C. RESULTS: Eighty-three patients were included in the study. The creatinine values of the patients at their last visit were no different between groups (P = .930). One-, 5-, and 10-year graft survival rates were 97%, 89%, and 74%, respectively, in group A; 100% for all years in group B; and 97%, 94%, and 80%, respectively, in group C. There was no statistically significant difference in terms of graft survival between groups (P = .351). CONCLUSION: Children with end-stage renal disease owing to urologic abnormalities may be good candidates for kidney transplantation with a favorable prognosis for graft function and survival.

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

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.

Pediatric renal transplantation: single center experience.

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.

Renal resistive indexes and some renal functions in liver cirrhotic children.

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. METHODS: Twenty-nine children (14 girls, 15 boys, mean age 11.6 years) with cirrhosis and 20 healthy children (mean age 10.3 years) were investigated for renal vascular resistance with Doppler ultrasonography, urinary sodium, N-acetyl-beta-D glucosaminidase (NAG) and microalbuminuria excretion. RESULTS: The measurements of renal resistive indexes (RRI) were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than the control group (0.69 +/- 0.07 vs 0.62 +/- 0.02, P < 0.0001). RRI measurement was found to be increased in decompensated cirrhotic patients than in compensated cirrhotic patients (0.73 +/- 0.05 vs 0.67 +/- 0.08, P < 0.0001). A significant positive relationship was observed between RRI and child score (r = 0.53). Urine NAG/Cr ratio was significantly higher in cirrhotic patients than in the control subjects (P < 0.001). Microalbumin concentrations were increased in the patients with decompensated cirrhosis than in the controls (P = 0.02). Patients with ascites and portal hypertension showed increased RRI values. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that patients with cirrhosis are at risk of renal deterioration, which can not be detected by serum urea, creatinine, and glomerular filtration rate. The increase of RRI is associated with the progress of hepatocellular disease, and also the development of ascites and portal hypertension. Elevated urinary sodium excretion, elevated urinary NAG/Cr ratio and microalbuminuria might have a prognostic value especially in patients with Child scores> 6. Hence, monitoring RRI is a non-invasive means of studying early renal hemodynamic alteration in childhood cirrhosis.

Lead exposure and urinary N-acetyl beta 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.