Gastrointestinal Manifestations of Adult Cystinosis in Iran: A Descriptive Study.

Background: Cystinosis is a multisystemic disease caused by the accumulation of cystine crystals in the kidney and many other organs. This disease most often involves children. Recent developments in the treatment procedures have improved the chance of patients surviving as long as puberty. This study discusses the importance of immediate diagnosis and early treatment of the disease with cystagon, which reduces gastrointestinal complications in such patients. Methods: This descriptive study was performed on 19 adult patients (over 18 years old) with cystinosis who were observed by nephrologists from medical universities throughout Iran. Gastrointestinal complications were studied in the patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 22. Results: The mean age of patients at the time of enrollment was 23.89 ± 5.06 years. Seventeen (89.4%) patients of this group had received renal replacement therapy (3 dialysis, 14 renal transplantation) due to end-stage renal disease and 2 (10.5%) of them were in stages 2 and 3 of chronic kidney disease. Three patients (15.7%) had hepatomegaly and splenomegaly; liver enzymes were normal in all patients. One patient (5.2%) had increased portal vein flow velocities, 2 of the patients (10.5%) underwent percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy implantation due to severe dysphagia and eventually died. Most gastrointestinal symptoms in patients were nausea and abdominal pain. Conclusion: Early diagnosis and treatment with the proper dose of cystagon can increase life expectancy, reduce complications, and improve the patient's quality of life.

The Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia Coli in Patients with Gastroenteritis in Iran, Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Shiga toxin induced Escherichia Coli (STEC) is associated with chronic kidney disease or neurologic disability. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of STEC identified in human studies in Iran. Search engines of PubMed, EMBASE, OVID, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Google Scholar, IranMedex, MagIran, SID and ganj.irandoc were used. All human studies with stool or rectal swap samples evaluated for STEC and the outcome of HUS in Iran, which had been published between 1985 and 2017, were included. Chi-square and I2 statistic tests were applied to assess between-studies heterogeneity. Pooled prevalence and odd ratio were calculated using random effect models. A total of 30 articles containing 23379 samples were included for the final analysis. The design of study was cross sectional in 16, case control in 13 and one was cohort. The pooled prevalence of STEC was 7% (95% CI, 5 - 11; I2 = 98.3%). In subgroup analysis, the pooled prevalence was 8% (95% CI, 4 - 13; I2 = 97.55%) in children but 4% (95% CI, 2 - 7; I2 = 97.66%) in adults. The odds of patients with diarrhea having had STEC were 7.06 times the odds of healthy subjects (pooled OR = 7.06, 95% CI: 3.66-13.61). Patients with bloody diarrhea less likely to have positive STEC than patients with non-bloody diarrhea (pooled OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.10-1.02). STEC was prevalent in diarrheic patients and the rate increased in recent years. The highest contamination was seen in East-South of Iran. Public health intervention is mandatory to eliminate it effectively.

Efficacy and Safety of Rituximab in Children With Steroid- and Cyclosporine-resistant and Steroid- and Cyclosporine-dependent Nephrotic Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: There is evidence of the effectiveness of rituximab in treatment of nephrotic syndrome in children. The present study aimed to assess safety and the therapeutic effectiveness of rituximab in steroid- and cyclosporine-resistant pediatric nephrotic syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-three children with steroid- and cyclosporine-resistant or steroid- and cyclosporine-dependent noncongenital nephrotic syndrome were included in the study to receive intravenous rituximab, 375 mg/m2/wk, for 4 weeks. The children were followed up for 2 years. Effectiveness was defined as remission of proteinuria in response to rituximab. Side effects of rituximab were monitored. RESULTS: Overall, 23 (57.1%) of the children had steroid- and cyclosporine-resistant nephrotic syndrome, of whom 8 (34.8%) revealed complete response and 3 (13%) revealed partial response. Seven children (16.7%) had late-resistant nephrotic syndrome, of whom 6 (85.7%) revealed complete response and none revealed partial response. Ten children (26.2%) had steroid- and cyclosporine-dependence all of whom revealed complete response to rituximab. Complete response rate was significantly higher in those with drug-dependent pattern than the other groups (P = .002). There was no association between response to rituximab and pathological basis of disease. Side effects were found in 4 patients as leukopenia in 2, alopecia in 1, and eosinophilia in 1. CONCLUSIONS: Rituximab is effective for children with nephrotic syndrome with high efficacy and well tolerability, especially in those with steroid- and cyclosporine-dependent nephrotic syndrome.