Treatment of severe henoch-schonlein purpura nephritis with mycophenolate mofetil.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is the most common childhood vasculitis. Renal involvement in HSP is one of the major causes of chronic renal failure in children. It is important to start effective and relatively safe medication to prevent end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) appears to be a promising therapeutic agent in many autoimmune diseases such as lupus nephritis and vasculitis. Herein, we describe the treatment with MMF of three patients with HSP nephritis. In two cases with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis without response to steroid, after treatment with MMF, significant improvement in kidney function and proteinuria were observed. In another patient with HSP nephritic-nephrotic syndrome who showed resistance to steroid, MMF offered a favorable effect. MMF seems to be a promising therapeutic agent in the treatment of the severe HSP nephritis.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis C, hepatitis B and HIV viruses in hemophiliacs born 1985-2010 in west Azarbaijan of Iran.

BACKGROUND: Although, in the past the risk of transfusion transmitted viral infections were high in hemophilia patients, but introduction of viral inactivation methods in1985,decreased the risk of human immunodeficiency and hepatitis C and B viruses transmission significantly. The aim of study was seroprevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag), hepatitis C virus antibody (HCV Ab) and human immunodeficiency virus antibody (HIVAb) in hemophiliacs in west Azarbaijan of Iran, born in 1985-2010. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, fifty patients with hereditary bleeding disorders born in 1985-2010, from total 250 patients who had been registered in Urmia Hemophilia Society were enrolled through the year 2010 to assess their seroprevalence for HCV Ab, HIV Ab and HBs Ag. Thirty five of 50 patients had hemophilia. Also; we performed a subset analysis for hemophilia patients. RESULTS: All 50 patients with hereditary bleeding disorders including 35 patients with hemophilia were seronegative for HIV Ab and HBs Ag. HCV-Ab was detected in serum of 3 of 50 (6%) patients with bleeding disorders. After subset analysis for hemophilia (A and B) patients, we found HCV infection in 8.57% (3 of 35) of hemophiliacs. CONCLUSION: In this study prevalence of HCV infection was very smaller than similar studies in Iran and other countries. This study shows the safety of using viral inactivated factor concentrates and recombinant factors after year 1985. None of Hemophiliacs were seropositive for HIV Ab and HBs Ag.

Parental risk factors of childhood acute leukemia: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Leukemia is the most common cancer in children, accounting for near to half of all childhood cancers. Different risk factors might be effective in the occurrence of this cancer such as parental characteristics. This study was done in West Azarbaijan Province in order to determine the relation between parental characteristics and acute leukemia in children. METHODS: This matched case-control study was conducted on children less than 15 years affected by acute leukemia from March 20, 2003 to March 20, 2009. Two control groups were selected, one from hospital and the other from the study population. Cases and controls were matched on age and sex. Logistic regression model was used for data analysis. RESULTS: This study was done on 130 patients, 108 (83.1%) were affected by Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and 22 (16.9%) by Acute Myeloblastic Leuke-mia. Seventy two of the patients were male (55.4%) and 58 were female (44.6%). There was a statistically significant correlation between acute leuke-mia and variables such as mother's education [OR=4.2, 95% CI: 2.42, 7.34], mother's history of using Oral Contraceptive Pills [OR=1.77, 95% CI: 1.05, 2.82] and parental relationship [OR=2.05, 95% CI: 1.30, 3.23]. CONCLUSION: It seems that some parental characteristics have an important role in etiology of childhood leukemia.