Sonographic assessment of the normal limits and percentile curves of liver, spleen, and kidney dimensions in healthy school-aged children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the normal standards of liver, spleen, and kidney dimensions and the relationship of each with sex, age, body weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area in healthy school-aged children. METHODS: Seven hundred twelve healthy school-aged children (7-15 years) in 2 neighboring cities, including rural areas and city centers, were evaluated prospectively. Sex, age, weight, height, body mass index, and body surface area were determined for each case. Organ dimensions were measured 3 times, and the mean values were recorded. All measured organs had a normal position, shape, and echo texture. The children were separated into 5 groups according to body weight. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in organ dimensions with respect to sex (P > .05). The mean right kidney length was shorter than the left kidney length, and the difference was significant (P = .009). Body weight showed the best correlation with liver, spleen, and kidney dimensions. The results were also supported by the variance and covariance of the correlation coefficients. CONCLUSIONS: The normal limits of the liver, spleen, and kidneys are important parameters during a sonographic examination. This study revealed that organ dimensions showed the best correlation with body weight. To our knowledge, in clinical practice there are no pediatric organ dimension percentile graphs for interpretation of sonographic examinations. We hope this study contributes to daily practice in radiology clinics.

Assessment of magnesium status in newly diagnosed diabetic children: measurement of erythrocyte magnesium level and magnesium tolerance testing.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum, erythrocyte and urine magnesium levels and retained magnesium percentage in newly diagnosed diabetic children. In a cross-sectional study, 34 children with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 21 healthy age- and sex-matched control subjects were screened for their serum, erythrocyte, and urine magnesium levels. Magnesium tolerance test was performed on diabetic and control subjects. Serum and erythrocyte magnesium levels in diabetic children were significantly lower than in healthy controls (plasma magnesium, p<0.05; erythrocyte magnesium, p<0.001); however, serum magnesium level was in normal range in diabetics and controls. Erythrocyte magnesium levels in diabetic children showed an inverse correlation with percentage of retained magnesium load (r=-0.44, p<0.01). Urine magnesium excretion in diabetic children (7.12 +/- 2.18 mmol/g creatinine/24-hr) was significantly higher than in healthy controls (4.0 +/- 1.35 mmol/g creatinine/24-hr) (p<0.001). There was a negative correlation between erythrocyte magnesium (2.07 +/- 0.62 mmol/L) and urine magnesium (7.12 +/- 2.18 mmol/g creatinine/24-hr) (r=-0.68 p<0.01) in diabetic children. Magnesium tolerance test showed that percentage of retained magnesium in diabetic children (66 +/- 26%) was significantly higher than in controls (16 +/- 7%) (p<0.001). This study is the first study to simultaneously investigate serum, erythrocyte and urine magnesium levels and magnesium tolerance test in newly diagnosed diabetic children. In conclusion, erythrocyte magnesium levels decrease earlier than serum magnesium in diabetic children. The follow-up parameters in diabetics may include the policy of monitoring magnesium status. Erythrocyte magnesium measurement is preferred to serum magnesium. Magnesium tolerance test is a reliable and sensitive method, which may be used as an alternative to erythrocyte magnesium measurement or in combination with it in hospitalized diabetic children.