Hepatitis B Immunization Status in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease: Experience at a Single Center, Egypt.

Background: Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly those who require hemodialysis (HD), are at high risk of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The HBV vaccine non-/hypo-response rate among HD children remains high, and it is critical to investigate the influencing factors and their linkages. The aim of this study was to identify the pattern of HB vaccination response in HD children and to analyze the interference of various clinical and biomedical factors with the immunological response to HB vaccination. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 74 children on maintenance hemodialysis, aged between 3 and 18 years. These children were subjected to complete clinical examination and laboratory investigations. Results: Out of a total of 74 children with HD, 25 (33.8%) were positive for the HCV antibody. Regarding the immunological response to hepatitis B vaccine, 70% were non-/hypo-responders (≤100 IU/mL) and only 30% mounted a high-level response (more than 100 IU/mL). There was a significant relation between non-/hypo-response and sex, dialysis duration, and HCV infection. Being on dialysis for more than 5 years and being HCV Ab-positive were independent variables for non-/hypo-response to HB vaccine. Conclusions: Children with CKD on regular HD have poor seroconversion rates in response to the HBV vaccine, which were influenced by dialysis duration and HCV infection.

Study of glucocorticoid receptors in T lymphocytes (CD3/GCR) as predictor of steroid responsiveness in Egyptian children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Little was known about the relationships between the T lymphocytes (CD3+), expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GCR) and the response to GC treatment in children with the idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS). Our objective was to determine the relation between steroid responsiveness and GCR expression in T lymphocytes. The present study was carried out on 80 children with new-onset INS admitted in Pediatric Nephrology Units of Zagazig and Tanta University Hospitals and on 40 healthy children of the same age and sex who served as control group. The Subjects were subdivided into three groups as follows: Group 1 with 40 healthy children of comparable age and sex served as control group; Group 2 consisted of 60 patients diagnosed with INS with early response to steroid therapy [early responder (ER)] and Group 3 with 20 patients diagnosed with INS with late response to steroid therapy [late responder (LR)]. They were subjected to history taking, focusing on the pattern of response to steroids (ERs), clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations and the GCR/CD3% relationship. 75% of newly diagnosed INS cases were ER whereas 25% were LR. GCR/CD3% was significantly lower in LR group in comparison with ER and control groups, with a significant negative correlation between time of steroid responsiveness and GCR/CD3%. LR group showed lower GCR expression in T lymphocytes before starting therapy which may mean that GCR expression could be part of a pathophysiological mechanism of steroid responsiveness in these children and can be used as a useful diagnostic marker to predict steroid responsiveness in patients with INS.

Evaluation of the Immune Response to Interferon Gamma Release Assay and Tuberculin Skin Test Among BCG Vaccinated Children in East of Egypt: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine (BCG) vaccination is used routinely in most of countries, especially developing one. The efficacy of the BCG vaccination generally decreases with time. The tuberculin skin test (TST) is a most popular diagnostic test for suspicion of tuberculosis (TB) in children till now, but it has many false positives. The interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is more specific than TST for detection of childhood TB, as it is more specific to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.Evaluate the interferon gamma response and TST reaction in BCG vaccinated children in east of Egypt.150 children were included in the study aged 1 month to 12 years; the collected data from the children included, full history taking, clinical examination, examination for the presence or absence of BCG scar under direct light. All the children had performed TST, IGRA.TST was done for all studied group reveal 51.3% with size of reaction <5 mm, 39.3% with size of reaction = 5 to 9 mm while 9.3% with size of reaction ≥10 mm. Mean size of reaction was 4.07 mm. Interferon gamma release assay was done for all studied group reveal 5 children (3.3%) with positive test. There was significant difference between the size of TST reaction and age (P < 0.01) with old children were more frequent to show positive reaction. Also, children with age range 1 month to 1 year were frequently have negative IGRA test, while children with age range 4 years to 12 years were frequently have positive test (P < 0.01). There was moderate agreement between IGRA and TST results (Kappa [κ] = 0.475). With high agreement between IGRA and TST results in children with absent BCG scar (κ = 1000).Therefore, Interferon gamma release assays have higher specificity and lower cross-reactions with BCG vaccination and nontuberculous Mycobacteraie than TST.