Post-transplant recurrence of focal segmental glomerular sclerosis: consensus statements.

Focal segmental glomerular sclerosis (FSGS) is 1 of the primary causes of nephrotic syndrome in both pediatric and adult patients, which can lead to end-stage kidney disease. Recurrence of FSGS after kidney transplantation significantly increases allograft loss, leading to morbidity and mortality. Currently, there are no consensus guidelines for identifying those patients who are at risk for recurrence or for the management of recurrent FSGS. Our work group performed a literature search on PubMed/Medline, Embase, and Cochrane, and recommendations were proposed and graded for strength of evidence. Of the 614 initially identified studies, 221 were found suitable to formulate consensus guidelines for recurrent FSGS. These guidelines focus on the definition, epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, and management of recurrent FSGS. We conclude that additional studies are required to strengthen the recommendations proposed in this review.

Evaluating the impact of accessible low-cost pediatric genetic testing on underserved communities in the United States.

BACKGROUND: Genetic testing is at the forefront of medical diagnosis, management, and preventative care particularly within the field of nephrology, but such testing can be prohibitively expensive for patients from disadvantaged backgrounds. This study is aimed at exploring how use of a low-cost, comprehensive commercial panel could increase availability of genetic testing to patients served by an inner-city American hospital and overcome many of the obstacles faced by these patients, including lack of availability of pediatric geneticist and genetic counselors, leading to delay in care and management, cost of genetic testing, and inaccessibility of genetic testing to underserved populations. METHODS: Single-center retrospective analysis patients who underwent genetic testing with NATERA Renasight Kidney Gene Panels run between November 2020 and October 2021. RESULTS: Genetic testing was offered to 208 patients, with 193 tests performed, 10 pending, and 4 deferred. Seventy-six patients were found to have results of clinical significance; 117 patients were found to have a negative result, of which 79 were found to have a variant of unknown significance (VUS); and 8 of these 79 VUS were later determined to be clinically significant leading to a change in management. Patient payment data breakdown showed that of 173, 68% used public insurance coverage, 27% used commercial or private insurance, and 5% were unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Genetic testing with the NATERA Renasight Panel provided a high positivity rate for genetic testing using next generation sequencing. It also allowed us to provide access to genetic testing to a larger population, specifically underserved and underrepresented patients. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Vitamin D supplementation in children and young adults with persistent proteinuria secondary to glomerular disease.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D deficiency is common in glomerular disease. Supplementation may be ineffective due to ongoing urinary losses of vitamin D binding protein. We sought to determine if daily cholecalciferol supplementation would increase vitamin D concentrations in children with glomerular disease and persistent proteinuria, without adverse effects. METHODS: Eighteen participants at least 5 years of age with primary glomerular disease and urine protein:creatinine ratio ≥ 0.5 were enrolled from four pediatric nephrology practices to receive cholecalciferol supplementation: 4,000 IU or 2,000 IU per day for serum 25 hydroxyvitamin vitamin D (25OHD) concentrations < 20 ng/mL and 20 ng/mL to < 30 ng/mL, respectively. Measures of vitamin D and mineral metabolism were obtained at baseline and weeks 6 and 12. Multivariable generalized estimating equation (GEE) regression estimated mean percent changes in serum 25OHD concentration. RESULTS: Median baseline 25OHD was 12.8 ng/mL (IQR 9.3, 18.9) and increased to 27.8 ng/mL (20.5, 36.0) at week 6 (p < 0.001) without further significant increase at week 12. A total of 31% of participants had a level ≥ 30 ng/mL at week 12. Supplementation was stopped in two participants at week 6 for mildly elevated calcium and phosphorus, respectively, with subsequent declines in 25OHD of > 20 ng/mL. In the adjusted GEE model, 25OHD was 102% (95% CI: 64, 141) and 96% (95% CI: 51, 140) higher versus baseline at weeks 6 and 12, respectively (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Cholecalciferol supplementation in vitamin D deficient children with glomerular disease and persistent proteinuria safely increases 25OHD concentration. Ideal dosing to fully replete 25OHD concentrations in this population remains unknown. CLINICAL TRIAL: NCT01835639. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Genetic testing in children with nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosing genetic kidney disease has become more accessible with low-cost, rapid genetic testing. The study objectives were to determine genetic testing diagnostic yield and examine predictors of genetic diagnosis in children with nephrolithiasis/nephrocalcinosis (NL/NC). METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted on children ≤ 21 years old with NL/NC from pediatric nephrology/urology centers that underwent the Invitae Nephrolithiasis Panel 1/1/2019-9/30/2021. The diagnostic yield of the genetic panel was calculated. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression were performed to assess for predictors of positive genetic testing. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen children (83 NL, 30 NC) from 7 centers were included. Genetic testing was positive in 32% overall (29% NL, 40% NC) with definite diagnoses (had pathogenic variants alone) made in 11.5%, probable diagnoses (carried a combination of pathogenic variants and variants of uncertain significance (VUS) in the same gene) made in 5.4%, and possible diagnoses (had VUS alone) made in 15.0%. Variants were found in 28 genes (most commonly HOGA1 in NL, SLC34A3 in NC) and 20 different conditions were identified. Compared to NL, those with NC were younger and had a higher proportion with developmental delay, hypercalcemia, low serum bicarbonate, hypophosphatemia, and chronic kidney disease. In multivariate analysis, low serum bicarbonate was associated with increased odds of genetic diagnosis (ß 2.2, OR 8.7, 95% CI 1.4-54.7, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic testing was high-yield with definite, probable, or possible explanatory variants found in up to one-third of children with NL/NC and shows promise to improve clinical practice. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

A review of ferric citrate clinical studies, and the rationale and design of the Ferric Citrate and Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (FIT4KiD) trial.

Pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by many co-morbidities, including impaired growth and development, CKD-mineral and bone disorder, anemia, dysregulated iron metabolism, and cardiovascular disease. In pediatric CKD cohorts, higher circulating concentrations of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) are associated with some of these adverse clinical outcomes, including CKD progression and left ventricular hypertrophy. It is hypothesized that lowering FGF23 levels will reduce the risk of these events and improve clinical outcomes. Reducing FGF23 levels in CKD may be accomplished by targeting two key stimuli of FGF23 production-dietary phosphate absorption and iron deficiency. Ferric citrate is approved for use as an enteral phosphate binder and iron replacement product in adults with CKD. Clinical trials in adult CKD cohorts have also demonstrated that ferric citrate decreases circulating FGF23 concentrations. This review outlines the possible deleterious effects of excess FGF23 in CKD, summarizes data from the adult CKD clinical trials of ferric citrate, and presents the Ferric Citrate and Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (FIT4KiD) study, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the effects of ferric citrate on FGF23 in pediatric patients with CKD stages 3-4 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT04741646).

Novel genetic testing model: A collaboration between genetic counselors and nephrology.

Many barriers to genetic testing currently exist which delay or prevent diagnosis. These barriers include wait times, staffing, education, and cost. Specialists are able to identify patients with disease that may need genetic testing, but lack the genetics support to facilitate that testing in the most cost, time, and medically effective manner. The Nephrology Division and the Genetic Testing Stewardship Program at Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children created a novel service delivery model in which nephrologists and genetic counselors collaborate in order to highlight their complementary strengths (clinical expertise of nephrologists and genetics and counseling skills of genetic counselors). This collaboration has reduced many barriers to care for our patients. This workflow facilitated the offering of genetic testing to 76 patients, with 86 tests completed over a 20-month period. Thirty-two tests were deferred. Twenty-seven patients received a diagnosis, which lead to a change in their medical management, three of whom were diagnosed by cascade family testing. Forty-two patients had a negative result and 16 patients had one or more variants of uncertain significance on testing. The inclusion of genetic counselors in the workflow is integral toward choosing the most cost and time effective genetic testing strategy, as well as providing psychosocial support to families. The genetic counselors obtain informed consent, and review genetic test results and recommendations with the patient and their family. The availability of this program to our patients increased access to genetic testing and helps to provide diagnoses and supportive care.

Continued reduction in peritonitis rates in pediatric dialysis centers: results of the Standardizing Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric End Stage Renal Disease (SCOPE) Collaborative.

BACKGROUND: In its first 3 years, the Standardizing Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric End Stage Renal Disease (SCOPE) Collaborative demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the likelihood of compliance with a standardized follow-up care bundle and a significant reduction in peritonitis. We sought to determine if compliance with care bundles and low peritonitis rates could be sustained in centers continuously participating for 84 months. METHODS: Centers that participated from collaborative launch through the 84-month study period and provided pre-launch peritonitis rates were included. Children on maintenance peritoneal dialysis were eligible for enrollment. Changes in bundle compliance were assessed using a logistic regression model or a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM). Changes in average annualized peritonitis rates over time were modeled using GLMMs. RESULTS: Nineteen centers contributed 1055 patients with 1268 catheters and 17,247 follow-up encounters. The likelihood of follow-up compliance increased significantly over the study period (OR 1.05 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03, 1.07; p < 0.001). Centers achieved ≥ 80% follow-up bundle compliance by 28 months and maintained a mean compliance of 84% between 28 and 84 months post-launch. Average monthly peritonitis rates decreased from 0.53 (95% CI 0.37, 0.70) infections per patient-year pre-launch to 0.30 (95% CI 0.23, 0.43) at 84 months post-launch, p < 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Centers participating in the SCOPE Collaborative for 84 months achieved and maintained a high level of compliance with a standardized follow-up care bundle and demonstrated a significant and continued reduction in average monthly peritonitis rates.

A prospective multi-center quality improvement initiative (NINJA) indicates a reduction in nephrotoxic acute kidney injury in hospitalized children.

Nephrotoxic medication (NTMx) exposure is a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) in hospitalized children. The Nephrotoxic Injury Negated by Just-in time Action (NINJA) program decreased NTMx associated AKI (NTMx-AKI) by 62% at one center. To further test the program, we incorporated NINJA across nine centers with the goal of reducing NTMx exposure and, consequently, AKI rates across these centers. NINJA screens all non-critically ill hospitalized patients for high NTMx exposure (over three medications on the same day or an intravenous aminoglycoside over three consecutive days), and then recommends obtaining a daily serum creatinine level in exposed patients for the duration of, and two days after, exposure ending. Additionally, substitution of equally efficacious but less nephrotoxic medications for exposed patients starting the day of exposure was recommended when possible. The main outcome was AKI as defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) serum creatinine criteria (increase of 50% or 0.3 mg/dl over baseline). The primary outcome measure was AKI episodes per 1000 patient-days. Improvement was defined by statistical process control methodology and confirmed by Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) modeling. Eight consecutive bi-weekly measure rates in the same direction from the established baseline qualified as special cause change for special process control. We observed a significant and sustained 23.8% decrease in NTMx-AKI rates by statistical process control analysis and by ARIMA modeling; similar to those of the pilot single center. Thus, we have successfully applied the NINJA program to multiple pediatric institutions yielding decreased AKI rates.

Using Electronic Health Record Data to Rapidly Identify Children with Glomerular Disease for Clinical Research.

BACKGROUND: The rarity of pediatric glomerular disease makes it difficult to identify sufficient numbers of participants for clinical trials. This leaves limited data to guide improvements in care for these patients. METHODS: The authors developed and tested an electronic health record (EHR) algorithm to identify children with glomerular disease. We used EHR data from 231 patients with glomerular disorders at a single center to develop a computerized algorithm comprising diagnosis, kidney biopsy, and transplant procedure codes. The algorithm was tested using PEDSnet, a national network of eight children's hospitals with data on >6.5 million children. Patients with three or more nephrologist encounters (n=55,560) not meeting the computable phenotype definition of glomerular disease were defined as nonglomerular cases. A reviewer blinded to case status used a standardized form to review random samples of cases (n=800) and nonglomerular cases (n=798). RESULTS: The final algorithm consisted of two or more diagnosis codes from a qualifying list or one diagnosis code and a pretransplant biopsy. Performance characteristics among the population with three or more nephrology encounters were sensitivity, 96% (95% CI, 94% to 97%); specificity, 93% (95% CI, 91% to 94%); positive predictive value (PPV), 89% (95% CI, 86% to 91%); negative predictive value, 97% (95% CI, 96% to 98%); and area under the receiver operating characteristics curve, 94% (95% CI, 93% to 95%). Requiring that the sum of nephrotic syndrome diagnosis codes exceed that of glomerulonephritis codes identified children with nephrotic syndrome or biopsy-based minimal change nephropathy, FSGS, or membranous nephropathy, with 94% sensitivity and 92% PPV. The algorithm identified 6657 children with glomerular disease across PEDSnet, ≥50% of whom were seen within 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: The authors developed an EHR-based algorithm and demonstrated that it had excellent classification accuracy across PEDSnet. This tool may enable faster identification of cohorts of pediatric patients with glomerular disease for observational or prospective studies.

Poor adherence to early childhood blood pressure measurement guidelines in a large pediatric healthcare system.

BACKGROUND: Children who were born prematurely, those with a very low birthweight, or who have survived the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at risk for the development of hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD), and thus require blood pressure screening less than 3 years of age, per American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2004 and 2017 guidelines. METHODS: We reviewed the practice patterns of a large pediatric health care system and assessed adherence to the AAP clinical practice guidelines on blood pressure measurements in children less than 3 years of age for hypertension and CKD with the following risk factors: prematurity, very low birthweight, and a neonatal intensive care setting encounter. This retrospective chart review included a total of 9965 patients with a median gestational age of 34 weeks. RESULTS: Overall, 38% of patients had at least one blood pressure measured less than 3 years of age. Primary care accounted for 41% of all outpatient encounters and 4% of all blood pressure measurements. Surgical specialties (i.e., ophthalmology, otolaryngology, and orthopedics) accounted for many non-primary care visits and were less likely than medical specialties (i.e., cardiology and nephrology) to obtain a blood pressure measurement (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study of a large healthcare system's practice revealed a lack of basic screening for hypertension in a population known to be at risk for hypertension and CKD.

LDL-apheresis-induced remission of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis recurrence in pediatric renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in pediatric patients is typically difficult to treat and will progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in about 10% of cases. Following kidney transplantation, FSGS can recur in up to 56% of renal allografts-with a near 100% recurrence in subsequent transplants. METHODS: Four different pediatric centers across the USA and the UK employed a protocol using LDL-apheresis (LDL-A) and pulse solumedrol to treat recurrent FSGS after transplantation in seven patients. All the patients included in this series demonstrated immediate, or early, recurrence of FSGS, which clinically presented as nephrotic-range proteinuria within hours to days after implantation of the kidney. RESULTS: All patients experienced reductions in urinary protein to creatinine ratios resulting in partial or complete remission. All patients demonstrated improvements in their estimated GFRs at their most recent follow-up since LDL-A discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: This case series describes the successful treatment, across four different pediatric centers, of seven pediatric patients with recurrent post-transplant FSGS using the Liposorber® LA-15 in combination with pulse solumedrol.

Pharmacokinetics of ferric pyrophosphate citrate administered via dialysate and intravenously to pediatric patients on chronic hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is a common cause of anemia in pediatric patients with hemodialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (CKD-5HD). Ferric pyrophosphate citrate (FPC, Triferic®) donates iron directly to transferrin, bypassing the reticuloendothelial system and avoiding iron sequestration. Administration of FPC via dialysate or intravenously (IV) may provide a suitable therapeutic option to current IV iron preparations for these patients. METHODS: The pharmacokinetics and safety of FPC administered via dialysate and IV to patients aged < 6 years (n = 3), 6 to < 12 years (n = 4), and 12 to <18 years (n = 15) were investigated in a multicenter, open-label, two-period, single-dose study. FPC (0.07 mg iron/kg) was infused IV into the venous blood return line during hemodialysis session no. 1. FPC iron was added to bicarbonate concentrate to deliver 2 µM (110 µg/L) iron via dialysate during hemodialysis session no. 2. RESULTS: Mean serum total iron concentrations peaked 3 to 4 h after administration via dialysate and 2 to 4 h after IV administration and returned to baseline by 10 h after the start of hemodialysis for both routes. Iron exposure was greater after administration via dialysate than after IV administration. The absolute amount of absorbed iron after administration via dialysate roughly doubled with increasing age, but the weight-normalized amount of absorbed iron was relatively constant across age groups (~ 0.06-0.10 mg/kg). FPC was well tolerated in the small number of patients studied. CONCLUSIONS: FPC iron can be administered to pediatric patients with CKD-5HD via dialysate or by the IV route. Further study of FPC administered to maintain hemoglobin concentration is indicated.

Epidemiology of peritonitis following maintenance peritoneal dialysis catheter placement during infancy: a report of the SCOPE collaborative.

BACKGROUND: Maintenance peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the dialysis modality of choice for infants and young children. However, there are limited outcome data for those who undergo PD catheter insertion and initiate maintenance PD within the first year of life. METHODS: Using data from the Children's Hospital Association's Standardizing Care to Improve Outcomes in Pediatric End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Collaborative (SCOPE), we examined peritonitis rates and patient survival in 156 infants from 29 North American pediatric dialysis centers who had a chronic PD catheter placed prior to their first birthday. RESULTS: In-hospital and overall annualized rates of peritonitis were 1.73 and 0.76 episodes per patient-year, respectively. Polycystic kidney disease was the most frequent renal diagnosis and pulmonary hypoplasia the most common co-morbidity in infants with peritonitis. Multivariable regression models demonstrated that nephrectomy at or prior to PD catheter placement and G-tube insertion after catheter placement were associated with a nearly sixfold and nearly threefold increased risk of peritonitis, respectively. Infants with peritonitis had longer initial hospital stays and lower overall survival (86.3 vs. 95.6%, respectively; P < 0.02) than those without an episode of peritonitis. CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of infants with ESRD, the frequency of peritonitis was high and several risk factors associated with the development of peritonitis were identified. Given that peritonitis was associated with a longer duration of initial hospitalization and increased mortality, increased attention to the potentially modifiable risk factors for infection is needed.

Recessive nephrocerebellar syndrome on the Galloway-Mowat syndrome spectrum is caused by homozygous protein-truncating mutations of WDR73.

We describe a novel nephrocerebellar syndrome on the Galloway-Mowat syndrome spectrum among 30 children (ages 1.0 to 28 years) from diverse Amish demes. Children with nephrocerebellar syndrome had progressive microcephaly, visual impairment, stagnant psychomotor development, abnormal extrapyramidal movements and nephrosis. Fourteen died between ages 2.7 and 28 years, typically from renal failure. Post-mortem studies revealed (i) micrencephaly without polymicrogyria or heterotopia; (ii) atrophic cerebellar hemispheres with stunted folia, profound granule cell depletion, Bergmann gliosis, and signs of Purkinje cell deafferentation; (iii) selective striatal cholinergic interneuron loss; and (iv) optic atrophy with delamination of the lateral geniculate nuclei. Renal tissue showed focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis and extensive effacement and microvillus transformation of podocyte foot processes. Nephrocerebellar syndrome mapped to 700 kb on chromosome 15, which contained a single novel homozygous frameshift variant (WDR73 c.888delT; p.Phe296Leufs*26). WDR73 protein is expressed in human cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cultured embryonic kidney cells. It is concentrated at mitotic microtubules and interacts with α-, ß-, and γ-tubulin, heat shock proteins 70 and 90 (HSP-70; HSP-90), and the carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 2/aspartate transcarbamylase/dihydroorotase multi-enzyme complex. Recombinant WDR73 p.Phe296Leufs*26 and p.Arg256Profs*18 proteins are truncated, unstable, and show increased interaction with α- and ß-tubulin and HSP-70/HSP-90. Fibroblasts from patients homozygous for WDR73 p.Phe296Leufs*26 proliferate poorly in primary culture and senesce early. Our data suggest that in humans, WDR73 interacts with mitotic microtubules to regulate cell cycle progression, proliferation and survival in brain and kidney. We extend the Galloway-Mowat syndrome spectrum with the first description of diencephalic and striatal neuropathology.

Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance venography in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease: initial experience with ferumoxytol.

Ferumoxytol is an ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) particle that is FDA-approved for parenteral treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease. Because of the association between gadolinium-based contrast agents and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis in patients with severe chronic kidney disease, we sought to evaluate the diagnostic role of ferumoxytol-enhanced MR venography in children with chronic kidney disease. Twenty children underwent 22 high-resolution ferumoxytol-enhanced MR venography examinations at 3.0 T. High-resolution 3-D contrast-enhanced imaging was performed at a minimum of 3 time points following injection of ferumoxytol at a total dose of 4 mg/kg. Two blinded pediatric radiologists independently scored six named veins on ferumoxytol-enhanced MR venography examinations according to a three-point subjective score, where a score ≥2 was considered diagnostic. Additionally, all relevant venous structures in the included field of view were analyzed for occlusive or non-occlusive thrombosis, compression and presence of collaterals. All patients underwent ferumoxytol-enhanced MR venography successfully and without adverse event. The overall scores of the reviewing radiologists for all venous structures were 2.7-2.9. In all cases, the reviewers were confident basing their diagnoses on the ferumoxytol-enhanced MR venography findings. In 12 of 22 examinations, findings on follow-up imaging or invasive procedures were available to correlate with the findings on ferumoxytol-enhanced MR venography. There was complete concordance between the findings from follow-up imaging and invasive procedures with findings from ferumoxytol-enhanced MR venography. Ferumoxytol holds promise as a powerful alternative to gadolinium-based contrast agents for reliable, high-resolution MR venography in children with chronic kidney disease.

The use of renal replacement therapy in critically ill pediatric small bowel transplantation candidates and recipients: Experience from one center.

Outcomes for pediatric SBT patients requiring perioperative RRT in the PICU remain unknown. The objectives were to document our center's experience with PICU SBT patients receiving perioperative RRT and to identify variables predictive of survival to discharge. A retrospective chart review of patients (ages, 0-18 yr) between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2011 that received RRT within a SBT perioperative period and were transplanted at our university-affiliated, tertiary care children's hospital was performed. Six SBT patients received perioperative RRT (ages, 5-12 yr). Three patients (50%) survived to hospital discharge. Among survivors, RRT was required for a total of 1-112 days (mean, 49.7 days). All three survivors survived to hospital discharge without renal transplantation and free of RRT. There was a trend toward increased survival among older patients receiving RRT (p = 0.05). Survivors had a higher I-125 GFR prior to PICU admission (p = 0.045). A higher I-125 GFR prior to PICU admission among survivors may support this test's utility during SBT evaluation. In our experience, a high survival rate and freedom from RRT at the time of discharge support RRT use in the SBT population.

High-resolution, whole-body vascular imaging with ferumoxytol as an alternative to gadolinium agents in a pediatric chronic kidney disease cohort.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCA) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with the development of a potentially fatal disorder, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Although contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) is an alternative to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it carries the risk of radiation exposure and further reduction of residual renal function. Therefore we sought to assess the feasibility of ferumoxytol as an alternative to GBCA for contrast-enhanced MR angiography (MRA) in a pediatric cohort with CKD. Ferumoxytol is a parenteral iron supplement that contains ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) and is a potent relaxivity agent for MRI. METHODS: We describe the MRI findings in ten pediatric patients who needed detailed vascular mapping. Ferumoxytol (4 mg/kg) was administered intravenously for contrast-enhanced MRA. The patients tolerated the procedure without complications. RESULTS: Resulting studies were highly diagnostic and were pivotal in guiding patient management. The images were notable for clear delineation of multiple vascular occlusions. CONCLUSIONS: Given the concerns associated with the use of GBCAs in renal failure, ferumoxytol is an excellent alternative contrast agent in pediatric end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. Future studies are needed in order to further evaluate safety and efficacy of ferumoxytol in this patient population.

Suppression of iron-regulatory hepcidin by vitamin D.

The antibacterial protein hepcidin regulates the absorption, tissue distribution, and extracellular concentration of iron by suppressing ferroportin-mediated export of cellular iron. In CKD, elevated hepcidin and vitamin D deficiency are associated with anemia. Therefore, we explored a possible role for vitamin D in iron homeostasis. Treatment of cultured hepatocytes or monocytes with prohormone 25-hydroxyvitamin D or active 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D decreased expression of hepcidin mRNA by 0.5-fold, contrasting the stimulatory effect of 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D on related antibacterial proteins such as cathelicidin. Promoter-reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses indicated that direct transcriptional suppression of hepcidin gene (HAMP) expression mediated by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D binding to the vitamin D receptor caused the decrease in hepcidin mRNA levels. Suppression of HAMP expression was associated with a concomitant increase in expression of the cellular target for hepcidin, ferroportin protein, and decreased expression of the intracellular iron marker ferritin. In a pilot study with healthy volunteers, supplementation with a single oral dose of vitamin D (100,000 IU vitamin D2) increased serum levels of 25D-hydroxyvitamin D from 27±2 ng/ml before supplementation to 44±3 ng/ml after supplementation (P<0.001). This response was associated with a 34% decrease in circulating levels of hepcidin within 24 hours of vitamin D supplementation (P<0.05). These data show that vitamin D is a potent regulator of the hepcidin-ferroportin axis in humans and highlight a potential new strategy for the management of anemia in patients with low vitamin D and/or CKD.

Short daily hemodialysis is associated with lower plasma FGF23 levels when compared with conventional hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: The utilization of short-term daily hemodialysis has increased over the last few years, but little is known on its effects on the control of serum phosphate and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) levels. METHODS: We therefore performed a cross-sectional study to compare FGF23 levels as well as other biochemical variables between 24 patients undergoing short daily hemodialysis using the NxStage System® and 54 patients treated with conventional in-center hemodialysis. FGF23 levels were measured using the second-generation Immutopics® C-terminal assay. RESULTS: Short daily hemodialysis patients were younger than patients on conventional hemodialysis but there were no differences between groups in the duration of end-stage renal disease nor in the number of patients with residual renal function. A greater number of short daily hemodialysis patients received vitamin D sterol therapy than did conventional in-center hemodialysis patients while there were no differences in the use of different phosphate binders and calcimimetic therapy between groups. Overall serum calcium, phosphorus and intact parathyroid hormone levels were similar between groups. While serum phosphorus levels correlated with FGF23 concentrations in each group separately [r=0.522 (P<0.01) and r=0.42 (P<0.01) in short daily and conventional in-center hemodialysis, respectively], FGF23 levels were lower [823 RU/mL (263, 2169)] in the patients receiving short daily hemodialysis than in patients treated with conventional hemodialysis [2521 RU/mL (909, 5556)] (P<0.01 between groups). CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that FGF23 levels are significantly lower in short daily hemodialysis patients and suggest that FGF23 levels may be a more sensitive biomarker of cumulative phosphate burden than single or multiple serum phosphorus determinations in patients treated with hemodialysis.

A biphasic dialytic strategy for the treatment of neonatal hyperammonemia.

BACKGROUND: Neonates with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) often develop hyperammonemia which, if not corrected quickly, may result in poor neurologic outcomes. As pharmacologic therapy cannot rapidly lower ammonia levels, dialysis is frequently required. Both hemodialysis (HD) and standard-dose continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) are effective; however, HD may be followed by post-dialytic ammonia rebound, and standard-dose CRRT may not effect a rapid enough decrease in ammonia levels. CASE-DIAGNOSIS/TREATMENT: We present two cases of IEM-associated neonatal hyperammonemia in which we employed a biphasic, high-dose CRRT treatment strategy, initially using dialysate flow rates of 5,000 mL/h (approximately 40,000 mL/h/1.73 m(2)) in order to rapidly decrease ammonia levels, then decreasing the dialysate flow rates to 500 mL/h (approximately 4,000 mL/h/1.73 m(2)) in order to prevent ammonia rebound. CONCLUSIONS: This biphasic dialytic treatment strategy for neonatal hyperammonemia effected rapid ammonia reduction without rebound and accomplished during a single dialysis run without equipment changes.