In this validation study, the BCR at admission provided a limited value to predict severe forms of D+HUS. What is Known: • BCR at admission has been proposed as an accurate predictor of complicated clinical course in children with D+HUS. What is New: • In a larger series of children with D+HUS, we were unable to confirm the usefulness of the admission BCR to early identify those at risk of complicated forms of the disease. • Further research is warranted to improve the optimal detection of these high-risk patients.

Introduction. Renal involvement among pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 ranges between 1.2% and 44%. Given the limited information available locally, the primary objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of renal involvement in our setting. Population and methods. Cross-sectional study conducted in 13 Argentine sites between March and December 2020. Patients aged 1 month to 18 years hospitalized due to COVID-19 and with at least one measurement of serum creatinine and/or a urinalysis were included. Those with a known kidney disease were excluded. Renal involvement was defined as the presence of acute kidney injury (AKI), proteinuria, hematuria, leukocyturia and/or arterial hypertension (HTN). Results. Among 528 eligible medical records, 423 patients were included (55.0% were males; median age: 5.3 years). The clinical presentation was asymptomatic in 31%; mild, in 39.7%; moderate, in 23.9%; severe, in 1.2%; critical, in 0.7%; and 3.5% had multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Two patients (0.47%) died. The prevalence of renal involvement was 10.8% (95% confidence interval: 8.2-14.2); it was described as leukocyturia (16.9%), proteinuria (16.0%), hematuria (13.2%), HTN (3.7%), and AKI (2.3%). No patient required dialysis. Renal involvement was associated with severe forms of disease (p < 0.0001). Conclusion. The prevalence of renal involvement among pediatric patients hospitalized due to COVID-19 in 13 Argentine sites was 10.8%; severe forms of disease prevailed.

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Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate practice patterns during prodromal phase of hemolytic uremic syndrome related to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC-HUS).Methods: Trajectories of children from first symptoms until STEC-HUS admitted consecutively at our center (period 2000-2017) were retrospectively reviewed. Early recommended practices include identification of STEC infections, antibiotics and antiperistaltic avoidance, and administration of anticipatory intravenous fluids; therefore, implementation and changes over time (before and after 2011) of such interventions were assessed. In addition, early management was correlated with acute disease outcomes.Results: Of 172 patients, 98 (57%) had early consults, 75 of them visit the pediatric emergency department. Those seen with watery diarrhea (n = 74) were managed as outpatients, whereas 27 of the 45 assisted with bloody diarrhea were hospitalized for diagnosis other than STEC-HUS. Stool cultures were performed in 13.4% (23/172), 18% (31/172) received antibiotics, and 12.8% (22/172) received endovenous fluids; none received antiperistaltic agents. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection was proven in 4% (7/172) before HUS. Rate of cultured patients and treated with intravenous fluids remained unchanged over time (P = 0.13 and P = 0.48, respectively), whereas antibiotic prescription decreased from 42.8% to 16.6% (P = 0.005). Main acute outcomes (need for dialysis, pancreatic compromise, central nervous system involvement, and death) were similar (P > 0.05) regardless of whether they received antibiotics or intravenous fluids.Conclusions: During the diarrheal phase, 57% of patients consulted; three-quarters of them consulted to the pediatric emergency department. Shiga toxin-producing E. coli detection was poor, antibiotic use remained high, and anticipatory volume expansion was underused. These findings outline the critical need to improve the early management of STEC-HUS.

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