Characteristics and predictors of chronic kidney disease in children with myelomeningocele: a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is highly prevalent in developing countries, and MMC-related neurogenic bladder is an important cause of childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD). This nationwide study aimed to evaluate demographic and clinical features of pediatric patients with MMC in Turkey and risk factors associated with CKD stage 5.

METHODS

Data from children aged 0-19 years old, living with MMC in 2022, were retrospectively collected from 27 pediatric nephrology centers. Patients > 1 year of age without pre-existing kidney abnormalities were divided into five groups according to eGFR; CKD stages 1-5. Patients on dialysis, kidney transplant recipients, and those with eGFR < 15 ml/min/1.73 m2 but not on kidney replacement therapy at time of study constituted the CKD stage 5 group.

RESULTS

A total of 911 (57.8% female) patients were enrolled, most of whom were expectantly managed. Stages 1-4 CKD were found in 34.3%, 4.2%, 4.1%, and 2.4%, respectively. CKD stage 5 was observed in 5.3% of patients at median 13 years old (range 2-18 years). Current age, age at first abnormal DMSA scan, moderate-to-severe trabeculated bladder on US and/or VCUG, and VUR history were independent risk factors for development of CKD stage 5 (OR 0.752; 95%; CI 0.658-0.859; p < 0.001; OR 1.187; 95% CI 1.031-1.367; p = 0.017; OR 10.031; 95% CI 2.210-45.544; p = 0.003; OR 2.722; 95% CI 1.215-6.102; p = 0.015, respectively). Only eight CKD stage 5 patients underwent surgery related to a hostile bladder between 1 and 15 years old.

CONCLUSION

MMC-related CKD is common in childhood in Turkey. A proactive approach to neurogenic bladder management and early protective surgery in selected cases where conservative treatment has failed should be implemented to prevent progressive kidney failure in the pediatric MMC population in our country.

Acute Kidney Injury After Thyroid Hormone Withdrawal in an Adolescent with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Objectives

We report a patient with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) who developed acute kidney injury (AKI) and elevated creatine kinase (CK) after thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) prior to radioiodine therapy.

Case presentation

A 12-year-old female patient who had undergone total thyroidectomy for PTC one year ago presented with leg pain for the past 2 days. Following THW 3 weeks ago, the case had received 70 mCI radioiodine treatment 6 days ago. Serum creatinine (1.53 mg/dL, normal range [NR]: 0.3-1.1), aspartate aminotransferase (102 IU/L, NR: 0-40) and CK (3451 IU/L, NR: 26-174) levels were elevated. Thyrotropin level was elevated (>100 µIU/ml, NR: 0.51-4.3), and free T4 level was decreased (0.05 ng/dL, NR: 0.98-1.63). Serum creatinine and CK levels decreased after intravenous hydration and levothyroxine treatment.

Conclusion

In PTC cases with thyroidectomy, kidney function and CK elevation should be assessed after THW and dehydration should be prevented.

Pediatric kidney care experience after the 2023 Turkey/Syria earthquake

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Two earthquakes on February 6th, 2023 destroyed ten cities in Türkiye. We report our experience with pediatric victims during these catastrophes, with a focus on crush syndrome related-acute kidney injury (Crush-AKI) and death.

METHOD

A web-based software was prepared. Patient demographics, time under rubble (TUR), admission laboratory data, dialysis, and kidney and overall outcomes were asked.

RESULTS

903 injured children (median age: 11.62 years) were evaluated. Mean TUR was 13 h (Interquartile range-IQR: 32.5), max 240 h). 31 of 32 patients with a TUR of >120 h survived. The patient who rescued after ten days survived.Two-thirds of the patients were given 50 mEq/L sodium-bicarbonate in 0.45% sodium-chloride solution on admission day. 58% of patients were given intravenous fluid (IVF) at a volume of 2000-3000 mL/m2 body surface area (BSA), 40% of 3000-4000 mL/m2 BSA, and only 2% of >4000 mL/m2 BSA. 425 patients had surgeries, 48 suffered from major bleeding. Amputations were recorded in 96 patients. Eighty-two and 66 patients required ventilator and inotropic support, respectively.Crush-AKI developed in 314 patients (36% of all patients). 189 patients were dialyzed. Age > 15 years, creatine phosphokinase (CK)≥20 950 U/L, TUR≥10 h, and the first-day IVF volume < 3000-4000 mL/m2 BSA were associated with Crush-AKI development. 22 deaths were recorded, 20 of 22 occurred in patients with Crush-AKI and within the first 4 days of admission. All patients admitted after 7 days survived.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the most extensive pediatric kidney disaster data after an earthquake. Serum CK level was significantly associated with Crush-AKI at the levels of >20 950 U/L, but not with death. Adolescent age and initial IVF of less than 3000-4000 mL/m2 BSA were also asscoiated with Crush-AKI. Given that mildly injured victims can survive longer periods in the disaster field, we suggest uninterrupted rescue activity for at least 10 days.

A case of crescentic glomerulonephritis with exacerbation of pre-existing IgA nephropathy after COVID-19

BACKGROUND

Relapses or new-onset IgA nephropathy (IgAN) have been documented in patients after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2; however, only one adult patient has been reported in whom pre-existing IgAN worsened during coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

CASE

We present the first pediatric case with biopsy-proven IgAN and genetically confirmed Alport syndrome, who developed end-stage kidney disease after an exacerbation of IgAN associated with COVID-19. The patient`s basal serum creatinine was 0.7-0.9 mg/dL before infection. He had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. He was admitted to the hospital with edema, hypertension, an elevated serum creatinine of 4.7 mg/ dL, and massive proteinuria. Three months before admission, he had been admitted to another hospital with COVID -19 and an elevated serum creatinine (1.9 mg/dL), but no biopsy had been performed at that time. The kidney biopsy revealed IgAN with 50% fibrocellular crescents with sclerosed glomeruli, tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis. His serum creatinine did not decrease even after five administrations of pulse steroids, and hemodialysis was initiated.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, COVID -19 may pose a high risk for exacerbation of pre-existing glomerular disease. It is therefore necessary to closely monitor the kidney function of patients with underlying glomerulonephritis during and after COVID-19 and consider an early biopsy if serum creatinine does not return to baseline levels. In addition, this case report highlights the clinical importance of the co-occurence of IgAN and Alport syndrome.