Rituximab has been used over the last decade as a rescue therapy for refractory cases of nephrotic syndrome (NS). Here we report the use of rituximab in four children with idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) with various histological backgrounds (two cases with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, one case with IgM nephropathy, and one case with minimal change disease), who failed to respond to other immunsuppressions. Their median age (range) was 10 (8-11) years. NPHS2 genetic mutation was negative in all of them. All patients received a single dose of rituximab (375 mg/m(2)) and achieved complete B cell depletion as CD19 was <1% for 3 months following rituximab infusion. Only one patient achieved non-sustained remission as he relapsed after 4 months despite zero CD19 level. Patients received no further doses of rituximab as B cell was depleted in the peripheral circulation. We conclude that a single dose of rituximab was not effective in inducing sustained remission in children with idiopathic SRNS, despite complete B cell depletion in the peripheral circulation. Further doses might be indicated to deplete non-circulating B cells.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESHypovitaminosis D is a frequent condition in normal populations. Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) present a high risk of developing complications due to hypovitaminosis D. Our aim was to determine the frequency of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency in children with different stages of CKD who were followed up at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.DESIGN AND SETTINGUniversity hospital-based case-control study of children followed up between March 2010 and March 2011.PATIENTS AND METHODSBlood was extracted from children with CKD to measure urea, creatinine, hemoglobin, calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), and vitamin D3 levels. We calculated correlations between iPTH and vitamin D levels, and associations between vitamin D levels and CKD stages.RESULTSThe frequency of vitamin D insufficiency/deficiency was high among the cases and controls. Children with CKD had significantly lower levels of vitamin D than their peers with normal kidney function (P=.05) with a mean (SD) level of 17.5 (9.9) ng/mL versus 21.0 (13.4) ng/mL for the control group. Among the children with CKD, 36 (45.0%) had vitamin D insufficiency, 24 (30.0%) had vitamin D deficiency, and 10 (12.5%) had severe deficiency. There was a positive correlation between vitamin D3 level and CKD stages (Kendall tau=0.22, P=.003). A significant association existed between glomerular filtration rate and vitamin D3 deficiency (P=.002). There was a significant negative correlation between iPTH and vitamin D3 concentrations (Spearman correlation coefficient= −0.27, P=.01). A significant association existed between age and vitamin D3 level (P<.0001).CONCLUSIONVitamin D insufficiency/deficiency is more frequent in children with CKD than in those with normal kidney function.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of serum apelin as a diagnostic tool in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) disease.Patients and methodsThirty-eight preterm infants (60% male) with gestational age ranging from 30 to 36 weeks admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit, KJO Hospital, Saudi Arabia with proven diagnosis of ROP were included in the study. In addition, 27 preterm infants without ROP served as controls. All newborn infants in the study were subjected to adequate history taking, full clinical examination, and fundus examination by indirect ophthalmoscope (at 4–6 weeks) as well as determination of serum apelin at birth and at 4–6 weeks of age.ResultsThe study revealed that oxygen therapy longer than 7 days’ duration, cesarean section (as a mode of delivery), sepsis, mechanical ventilation, blood transfusion, premature rupture of membranes, pneumothorax, perinatal asphyxia, cardiac problems, and neonatal jaundice were considered as risk factors related to development of ROP. Serum apelin levels were significantly lower in patients than controls (P<0.001) at time of diagnosis of the disease (4–6 weeks) while no significant differences were observed in levels at birth.ConclusionSerum apelin was found to be of significant diagnostic value in the occurrence of ROP.

Significant proximal tubular dysfunction was a feature in the SCD group, indicated by high urinary RBP and β2-microglobulin excretion. Assessing the urinary excretion of these low molecular weight proteins in children with sickle cell disease at different points of diagnosis may add key clinical information to the follow up of renal tubular function in patients with SCD.

Abbreviations and AcronymsAPN, acute pyelonephritis CRP, C-reactive protein DMSA, dimercaptosuccinic acid ELISA, enzymelinked immunosorbent assay ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate IL-6, interleukin-6 MIF, migration inhibitory factor PCT, procalcitonin RPI, renal parenchymal involvement UTI, urinary tract infection WBC, white blood cell ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Distinguishing upper from lower urinary tract infections (UTI) has important clinical implicationsin children, especially in those younger than 2 years of age. The objective of this study was to test differences between upper and lower UTIs by using serum and urine biomarkers. METHODS:Participants were 83 patients with UTI based on suggestive clinical symptoms and at least 1 positive urine culture. All had renal scintigraphy. Children with known concomitant diseases, any type of renal disorder, or a previous diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux were excluded. Before the initiation of antibiotic treatment, blood was sampled for white blood cell (WBC) count, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and procalcitonin (PCT). Urinary interleukin-6 (uIL-6) and macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) were also measured. Data were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney or t test. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for some variables in isolation and in combination. RESULTS:There were 61 girls and 22 boys with mean (SD) age of 8.7 (3.4) months and 7.8 (4.5) months, respectively; 49 patients had acute pyelonephritis (APN) and 34 had lower UTI. The mean WBC counts were significantly higher in the group with APN than in the group with lower UTI (P < .01), as were CRP and ESR levels (P < .001). Significantly higher serum PCT, urinary IL-6, and MIF levels were detected in patients with APN when compared with patients with lower UTI (all with P < .001). For the prediction of APN, sensitivity and specificity levels were 95.9% and 88.2% for CRP, 87.8% and 91.2% for PCT, 71.4% and 94.1% for uIL-6, and 93.9% and 97.1% for urinary MIF. The sensitivity and specificity for CRP combined with other biomarkers were 93.9% and 91.2% (PCT with CRP), 95.9% and 91.2% (uMIF with CRP), and 85.7 % and 94.1% (uIL-6 with CRP), respectively. CONCLUSION: Some biomarkers, used solely or in combination, help to differentiate between upper and lower UTI and may make more aggressive and invasive testing unnecessary in the future. UroToday International Journal ® UI J