Hepatitis C infection in a pediatric dialysis population.

A variable prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) infection has been reported in adult patients on hemodialysis. We have studied HCV infection and associated risk factors in a pediatric dialysis unit. Sera from all 27 patients undergoing either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis in our unit were tested for antibody to HCV by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and seropositives were confirmed by recombinant immunoblot assay. Records were reviewed for demographic, biochemical, and risk factor data. From the total of 27 patients (12 male, mean age 20.9 years, range 7.3 to 28.1 years), five were anti-HCV(+) (18.5%). All the anti-HCV(+) patients had been on hemodialysis (69 to 194 months, mean 105 months), while of the 22 anti-HCV(-) patients, only 14 had been on hemodialysis (5 to 209 months, mean 41.4 months), P less than .005. All the anti-HCV(+) patients had received blood transfusions (10 to 124 units, mean 61.4 units) as had 12 of the anti-HCV(-) patients (1 to 54 units, mean 14 units), P less than .02. Of the 5 anti-HCV(+) patients, only one had prior hepatitis B infection; of the 22 anti-HCV(-) patients, three had hepatitis B surface antigen, and no others had evidence of hepatitis B infection. The most predictive risk factor for HCV infection was length of time on hemodialysis. Eleven of the 27 patients (40.7%) had abnormal alanine aminotransferase values, of whom four were anti-HCV(+), three were hepatitis B surface antigen(+), and one was seropositive for antibody to human immunodeficiency virus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Diuretic MAG3 scintirenography in children with HIV nephropathy: diffuse parenchymal dysfunction.

UNLABELLED: HIV nephropathy (HIVN) is prevalent in 15%-56% of HIV-infected children and induces mild to severe progressive nephropathy. METHODS: A total of 33 renal diuretic scintirenographic studies with 99mTc-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) were reviewed and analyzed from 23 HIV pediatric patients, 21 of whom had HIVN with varying degrees of renal impairment. Results were compared with 10 studies of control patients of matching ages. Visual interpretation of images and renograms as well as semiquantitative analyses were performed. Variables compared were size of kidneys, time of peak and one-half peak activities, residual (or retained) cortical activity at 20 min, ratio of cortical activity at 2.5-20 min, and ratio of kidney activity to kidney plus background activity at 2 min. The results of MAG3 renal studies were also compared with laboratory data pertaining to creatinine clearance in all patients and with sonography in 17 patients. RESULTS: In most patients with HIVN (18/21), the kidneys were larger than normal, with a diffuse parenchymal dysfunction (decreased uptake, slow processing, and increased retention of activity) and flat renograms, findings similar to those observed in other diffuse parenchymal diseases. In all patients with HIVN, semiquantitative analysis (paired t test) showed statistically significant differences from control patients for all variables. On ANOVA, a statistically significant correlation was found between most scintigraphic parameters and the severity of renal impairment. Of the 17 concurrent sonographic studies in HIVN patients, 7 showed no abnormalities, whereas the results of scintigraphy were abnormal. CONCLUSION: Diuretic MAG3 scintirenography shows nonspecific diffuse parenchymal dysfunction in pediatric patients with HIVN. Such dysfunction may provide corroborative evidence of HIVN and should be recognized when the test is performed for standard indications. Further work is necessary to prove that the test has indeed the high sensitivity and good correlation with the seventy of HIVN suggested in this population; the test may be useful to follow up the progression of disease and the effect of treatment.

Quantitation of thrombogenicity of hemodialyzer with technetium-99m and indium-111 labeled platelets.

The platelet thrombogenicity of a hemodialyzer was quantified with 99mTc- and 111In-labeled platelets. The platelets collected from blood of Beagle dogs, Yorkshire pigs and human volunteers were labeled with 111In-tropolone (detergent-free) and 99mTc-HMPAO. Hemodialysis was performed with a hollow-fiber dialyzer (HFD) in a flow-loop, the temperature of which was maintained at 37 degrees C, with flow-rates of 7, 150 and 270 mL/min; after dialysis, the HFD radioactivity was measured with an ionization chamber and imaged with a gamma-camera. The radioactivity of samples of hollow-fibers taken from the top, middle and bottom of the dialyzer was determined with a gamma-counter. The mean values of hemodialyzer-adherent platelet radioactivity were calculated for both radionuclides. The canine platelets were found to be more thrombogenic than porcine and human platelets. The adhesivity of porcine platelets to the biomaterial (cellulose-acetate) of the dialyzer approximated that of human platelets. The 99mTc label underestimated the thrombus formation (P < 0.01). The dynamic processes of thrombosis and embolization from the hemodialyzer resulted in the large standard deviations around the mean values of the adherent thrombus. In spite of this limitation of the dynamic pathology, the quantitation of comparative thrombogenicity with 111In- and 99mTc-labeled platelets suggests that both radionuclides could be used for measurement of device-induced thrombogenicity and may provide an estimation of prosthesis-induced thrombogenicity of human platelets from animal studies.

Quantitation of comparative thrombogenicity of dog, pig, and human platelets in a hemodialyzer.

Comparative platelet thrombogenicity was quantified with In111 labeled platelets. The platelets collected from the blood of Beagle dogs, Yorkshire pigs, and human volunteers were labeled with detergent free In111 tropolone, and sham hemodialysis (SHD) was performed with a hollow fiber dialyzer in a flow loop at 37 degrees C, with flow rates of 7, 150, and 270 ml/min. After SHD, hemodialyzer radioactivity was measured with an ionization chamber, gamma counter, and it was imaged with a gamma camera. The mean values of hemodialyzer-adherent platelet radioactivity were calculated. Canine platelets are more thrombogenic than porcine and human platelets. Quantitation of comparative thrombogenicity with In111 platelets may provide an estimation of prosthesis induced thrombogenicity of human platelets from animal studies.

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of the comparative thrombogenicity of cellulose acetate hemodialyzers with radiolabeled platelets.

Platelet consumption and platelet kinetics during hemodialysis were quantified in Yorkshire pigs with In-111 labeled platelets. Six anesthetized pigs (20-25 kg) were hemodialyzed at 150 ml/min for 3 hr. All pigs were injected with autologous In-111 labeled platelets (300-420 microCi) 24 hr before dialysis and were systemically heparinized (ACT > 400 sec) before cannulation. Hemodialysis was instituted with a Drake-Willock hemodialysis machine and a hollow fiber dialyzer (Cobe4, 0.6 m2). In vitro sham dialysis was carried out at 150 ml/min for 3 hr with six more dialyzers in a flow-loop with the blood reservoir maintained at 37 degrees C. In vitro thrombogenicity over-estimates (10-fold) in vivo values. In both systems, platelet deposition on dialyzers reached a steady state, suggesting a constant rate of thrombus formation and embolization in the hollow fiber system. The relative thrombus distribution after 3 hr of dialysis was similar in both systems, with adherent thrombi in the entry and exit ports and highest numbers in the midsection of the hemodialyzer. Biodistribution after 3 hr of dialysis indicated that thrombosis of the hemodialyzer and arterial and venous traps as well as embolization reduced the platelet pool in the blood and increased platelet emboli in lung, brain, kidneys, and skeletal muscle, as measured by the In-111 labeled platelets.

Takayasu's arteritis associated with glomerulonephritis. A case report.

Takayasu's disease is a nonspecific arteritis of unknown cause with predilection for the aortic arch and its branches; approximately 20% of those affected are children or adolescents, predominantly females. The purpose of this article is to report the case of a young girl in which the mode of presentation was microscopic hematuria and proteinuria. Subsequently, aortic valvular insufficiency developed and there was evidence of aortitis in the thoracic and abdominal aorta, as well as in the arch. All functional and anatomical cardiac derangements were documented by ultrasound and angiocardiography. Renal biopsies showed progressive glomerular involvement characterized by focal and segmental glomerulonephritis. It is postulated that a common immunologic mechanism was responsible for the aortic and glomerular lesions.

ACE inhibition scintigraphy in the management of hypertension in children.

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition scintirenography was performed to help establish the diagnosis and plan treatment of renovascular hypertension (RVH) in 57 hypertensive pediatric patients, 33 infants and 24 children older than 1 year. In 16 of 33 hypertensive infants, ACE inhibition scintirenography established the diagnosis of RVH from renal ischemia (due to aortic or renal arterial thrombi). Two scintigraphic criteria were used for the diagnosis of RVH: criterion I, ischemic and damaged kidney (a non-functioning kidney on or off ACE inhibition) and criterion II, ischemic but not damaged kidney (ACE inhibition induced deterioration of function of the kidney). When criterion I was present and the contralateral kidney was normal, ACE inhibitors could be used for treatment of hypertension without deterioration of renal function; kidneys satisfying criterion I eventually involuted or manifested growth arrest and frequently caused persistent RVH, even after resolution of the thrombus, requiring nephrectomy. When criterion II was present bilaterally, or it was associated with criterion I contralaterally, the use of antihypertensive drugs other than ACE inhibitors was necessary in order to prevent renal insufficiency or failure from ACE inhibitors. However, kidneys with criterion II showed normal growth and, following retraction or dissolution of the aortic thrombus, hypertension resolved. In 2 of 24 hypertensive children older than 1 year, the test was diagnostic of branch renal artery stenosis; RVH was cured by selective angioplasty. ACE inhibition scintirenography is useful in the evaluation and planning of treatment in children with hypertension and may predict the outcome of therapy and ultimate renal function.