Incidence and Risk Factors of Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Liver Transplant Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) significantly contributes to the mortality and morbidity rates among pediatric liver transplant (LT) recipients. Objective: Our study aimed to assess the potential factors contributing to AKI in pediatric LT patients and to analyze the impact of AKI on postoperative mortality and hospitalization duration. Materials and methods: About 235 pediatric LT patients under the age of 18 between the years 2015 and 2021 were evaluated retrospectively. The relationship between preoperative and intraoperative variables of the patients and AKI developed when the early postoperative period was assessed. Results: A correlation was found between the patients' preoperative age, albumin levels, and AKI. AKI was found to be associated with the duration of surgery and intraoperative blood transfusion. Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the severity of AKI in pediatric LT patients is linked to extended surgical durations and increased blood transfusions resulting from hemodynamically compromised blood loss. Furthermore, independent risk factors for AKI were identified as prolonged warm ischemia and the overall duration of the operation. How to cite this article: Demiroz D, Colak YZ, Ozdes OO, Ucar M, Ali Erdogan M, Toprak HI, et al. Incidence and Risk Factors of Acute Kidney Injury in Pediatric Liver Transplant Patients: A Retrospective Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(1):75-79.

Role of pan immune inflammatory value in the evaluation of hepatosteatosis in children and adolescents with obesity.

OBJECTIVES: Inflammation is a feature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease progression and plays an important role in hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. Since there are no studies in the literature showing the relationship between hepatosteatosis with the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and pan-immune inflammation value (PIV), we aimed to evaluate the relationship between these biomarkers and hepatosteatosis in childhood. METHODS: We included 133 consecutive obese children and adolescents aged 6-18 years into this single-center, retrospective, and cross-sectional study. Anthropometric, physical examination, radiological and laboratory data were obtained and recorded from the file records of each case. RESULTS: When we grouped the patient population according to the grade of hepatosteatosis, there was a statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of SII and PIV values (p<0.05, for both). In the analyzes performed to identify independent predictors of hepatosteatosis pubertal status (p=0.019) and PIV value (p<0.001) were found to be significant as independent predictors. Moreover, in the analysis performed to predict severity of hepatic steatosis, regression analysis was performed by dividing the groups into groups with and without severe adiposity. As a result of this analysis, HOMA-IR (p=0.019) and PIV value (p=0.028) were found to be significant in the prediction of severe hepatic adiposity. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings showed that increased PIV levels were associated with the presence and severity of hepatic steatosis, but not with SII.

Comparison of Urinary Tract Dilatation and Society of Fetal Urology systems in the detection of vesicourethral reflux and renal scar.

PURPOSE: The presence and degree of hydronephrosis is very important in the management of many diseases of the urinary tract. In this study, we aim to compare the sensitivity and specificity of 2 classification systems that are used for hydro-nephrosis grading in ultrasound, for reflux and scar detection. The classification systems were the Society of Fetal Urology (SFU) and Urinary Tract Dilatation (UTD). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ultrasounds and dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphies (DMSA) of all patients who underwent voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) due to urinary tract infection were examined retrospectively. DMSA was accepted for scar detection and VCUG for reflux detection as reference methods. SFU classification was used for hydronephrosis in ultrasound reports, and UTD classification was made over the reports. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of UTD and SFU classification systems for reflux and scar detection were calculated, and these 2 systems were compared. RESULTS: 103 (39%) of the patients were male and 162 (61%) were female. Pathologies were detected in 192 (35%) of 530 kidneys in ultrasound. In 110 (42%) of the children, reflux was detected in VCUG. Scars in DMSA were detected in only 16% (44) of 266 kidneys. Sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values of the UTD classification system were statistically significantly higher than the SFU system for scar and reflux detection (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: If we use the UTD system in ultrasounds of patients with urinary tract infections, children reported as UTD 0 may not need VCUG, which reduces radiation exposure to children and the cost of the diagnostic interventions.

Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of the effects of cigarette and maras powder (smokeless tobacco) on lumbar disc degeneration.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to investigate and compare the effects of the use of Maras powder and cigarettes on lumbar disc degeneration. PAIENTS AND METHODS: This study included 87 adult patients who presented at our hospital with a complaint of mechanical low back pain and underwent lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients meeting the inclusion criteria were divided into three groups. Group 1 included those who smoked Maras powder but not cigarettes, group 2 was comprised of those who smoked cigarettes but did not use Maras powder, and group 3 was comprised of those who did not use tobacco (no cigarettes or Maras powder) (control group). Lumbar disc degeneration was rated according to the Pfirrmann classification. Hematological parameters were obtained from all three groups. RESULTS: Degeneration levels in group 1 were significant when compared to the other groups at all disc levels. Maras powder contributed to intervertebral disc degeneration and this effect increased gradually towards the distal area. The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio was significantly higher in group 1 than in the other two groups, and was positively correlated with the duration of use of Maras powder (r = 0.689, p ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSION: Although more prevalent in the Maras powder group, lumbar disc degeneration increased significantly with tobacco usage. The results of our study show that Maras powder, commonly used regionally, is likely to cause more spinal disc degeneration than cigarettes.

Increased epicardial adipose tissue thickness on transthoracic echocardiography in patients with Behçet disease.

OBJECTIVES: Owing to the fact that the potential frequency of endothelial dysfunction and early atherosclerosis might be higher in Behçet disease, characterized by acute and chronic inflammatory attacks, it may lead to impairment in flow-mediated dilatation and an increase in epicardial adipose tissue thickness. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate whether epicardial adipose tissue thickness and brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation as markers of early atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction were associated with Behçet disease. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with Behçet disease and 35 healthy volunteers were included in this study. Epicardial adipose tissue was identified as an anechoic space between epicardial layers on 2-dimensional images, and its thickness was measured on the free wall of the right ventricle. Right brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation was assessed according to recent guidelines. RESULTS: Serum γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels and epicardial adipose tissue thickness were significantly higher (P = .001; P < .001 respectively), whereas flow-mediated, endothelium-dependent dilatation was significantly lower in the Behçet disease group than controls (P < .001). There was a significant negative association between epicardial adipose tissue thickness and flow-mediated dilatation (P < .001). Epicardial adipose tissue thickness was also positively correlated with Behçet disease activity (P< .001), Behçet disease duration (P< .001), and waist circumference (P< .001). Flow-mediated dilatation was negatively correlated with GGT (P< .001), Behçet disease activity (P< .001), and age (P< .001). There was also a significant association between GGT and Behçet disease activity (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: We found that epicardial adipose tissue thickness was significantly higher and flow-mediated dilatation was significantly lower in patients with Behçet disease than in controls. We suggest that identification of increased epicardial adipose tissue might aid in the diagnosis and treatment of possible coronary artery disease in patients with Behçet disease.

The evaluation of vertebrobasilar artery system in neuro-Behçet and Behçet disease using magnetic resonance angiography.

The aim of this study is the evaluation of the vertebrobasilar artery system in patients with Behçet's and Neuro-Behçet's disease. For this aim; 20 adults with clinically diagnosed Behcet's disease, 20 adults with Neuro-Behçet's disease, and 19 age- and gender-matched controls were examined by magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). During MRA, diameters of left vertebral artery (LVA), right vertebral artery (RVA), basilar artery (BA), and proximal segment (P1) of posterior cerebral artery between origin and junction with the posterior communicating artery were measured. In all groups, LVA was dominant than RVA (P < 0.05). The diameters of BA and right P1 of Neuro-Behçet's disease were larger than the other groups (P < 0.05). In addition, the diameters of left P1 of Neuro-Behçet's disease were larger but not statistically significant. There is no difference between the groups in terms of gender. Behçet's disease can affect vascular structures; therefore vertebrobasilar artery system should be examined in patients with Behçet's and Neuro-Behçet's disease.

Evaluation of vertebral artery involvement by Doppler sonography in patients with Behçet disease.

OBJECTIVES: Neurologic lesions in Behçet disease are most frequently observed in areas supplied by the vertebrobasilar system. We aimed to evaluate possible vertebral artery involvement by Doppler sonography in patients with Behçet disease. METHODS: Forty-five patients with Behçet disease and 29 healthy volunteers had Doppler sonography of the vertebral arteries. Patients were grouped according to neurologic examination and magnetic resonance imaging findings as follows: group 1, Behçet disease without neurologic involvement; group 2, neuro-Behçet disease; and group 3, control. Results were assessed with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The main findings of our study were as follows: (1) total vertebral artery volume flow was significantly lower in the patient groups than the control group (P< .05); (2) total volume flow was lower in group 2 than group 1, although the difference was not statistically significant; (3) peak systolic and end-diastolic velocity values were significantly lower in the patient groups than the control group; (4) right and left mean volume values were lower in group 2; and (5) resistive and pulsatility index values for the left vertebral artery were significantly higher in group 2, but no statistically significant differences were found in the resistive and pulsatility index values for the right vertebral artery. CONCLUSIONS: Doppler sonography of the vertebral arteries in Behçet disease shows alterations that may aid in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

Assessment of atrial electromechanical delay in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome in both lean and obese subjects.

AIM: Even though polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by increased inflammatory activity and insulin resistance, there is no clinical data about whether risk of atrial fibrillation are increased in these patients. We aimed to evaluate atrial conduction parameters predicting atrial involvement in this patient group. METHODS: The study population comprised 50 women 18-40 years of age who had been diagnosed with PCOS. The patients were divided into two groups: lean women (L-PCOS) with a body mass index (BMI) under 25 kg/m² and obese women (O-PCOS) with a BMI greater than 30 kg/m². Twenty-five age-matched lean healthy women were enrolled voluntarily as the control group. Difference between maximum and minimum P-wave duration was calculated and was defined as P-wave dispersion (Pd). Inter- and intra-atrial electromechanical delays (inter-AED, intra-AED, respectively) were measured with tissue Doppler imaging. RESULTS: Inter- and intra-AED parameters were higher in the L-PCOS group when compared with control subjects (anova, P=0.004 and P=0.013, respectively), and were also significantly higher in the O-PCOS group compared with other groups (anova, P<0.001 for both). The regression analyses indicated that Homeostasis Model of Assessment - Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) (ß=0.603, P<0.001) and BMI (ß=0.379, P<0.001) were the independent predictors of inter-AED, HOMA-IR (ß=0.835, P<0.001) was an independent predictor of intra-AED, and BMI (ß=0.457, P=0.006) and the left atrial diameter (ß=0.350, P<0.034) were independent predictors of Pd. CONCLUSION: Consequently, our findings provide data regarding prolonged atrial conduction parameters in PCOS patients, especially when accompanied by obesity.