• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제54권8호
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• pp.317-321
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• 2011

Children who suffer from steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) require aggressive treatment to achieve remission. When intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone fails, calcineurin inhibitors, such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, are used as the first line of treatment. A significant number of patients with SRNS progress to end-stage renal disease if remission is not achieved. For these children, renal replacement therapy can also be problematic; peritoneal dialysis may be accompanied by significant protein loss through the peritoneal membrane, and kidney allograft transplantation may be complicated by recurrence of SRNS. Plasmapheresis and rituximab were initially used for treatment of recurrent SRNS after transplantation; these are now under consideration as rescue therapies for refractory SRNS. Although the prognosis of SRNS is complicated and unfavorable, intensive treatment in the early stages of the disease may achieve remission in more than half of the patients. Therefore, timely referral of pediatric SRNS patients to pediatric nephrology specialists for histological and genetic diagnosis and treatment is highly recommended.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제61권2호
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• pp.37-42
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• 2018

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is often encountered in children with acute kidney injury. Besides the well-known shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-associated HUS, atypical HUS (aHUS) caused by genetic complement dysregulation has been studied recently. aHUS is a rare, chronic, and devastating disorder that progressively damages systemic organs, resulting in stroke, end-stage renal disease, and death. The traditional treatment for aHUS is mainly plasmapheresis or plasma infusion; however, many children with aHUS will progress to chronic kidney disease despite plasma therapy. Eculizumab is a newly developed biologic that blocks the terminal complement pathway and has been successfully used in the treatment of aHUS. Currently, several guidelines for aHUS, including the Korean guideline, recommend eculizumab as the first-line therapy in children with aHUS. Moreover, life-long eculizumab therapy is generally recommended. Further studies on discontinuation of eculizumab are needed.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.165-168
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• 2017

Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in children, which is a kind of nephrotic syndrome showing steroid resistance, usually progresses to a substantial number of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Although the pathogenesis of primary FSGS is unclear, several recent studies have reported that FSGS is associated with circulating immune factors such as soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) or anti-CD40 autoantibody. We report a successfully treated case of a 19-year-old female patient who experienced a recurrence of primary FSGS. After the diagnosis of FSGS, the patient progressed to ESRD and received a kidney transplantation (KT). Three days later, recurrence was suspected through proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. She has been performed plasmapheresis and high dose methylprednisolone pulse therapy and shown remission status without increasing proteinuria for four years after KT. In conclusion, strong immunosuppressive therapy may be helpful for a good prognosis of recurrent FSGS, suppressing several immunologic circulating factors related disease pathogenesis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제50권10호
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• pp.931-937
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• 2007

The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare disease of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, low platelet count and renal impairment. HUS usually occurs in young children after hemorrhagic colitis by shigatoxin-producing enterohemorrhagic E. coli (D+HUS). HUS is the most common cause of acute renal failure in infants and young children, and is a substantial cause of acute mortality and morbidity; however, renal function recovers in most of them. About 10% of children with HUS do not reveal preceding diarrheal illness, and is referred to as D- HUS or atypical HUS. Atypical HUS comprises a heterogeneous group of thrombomicroangiopathy (TMA) triggered by non-enteric infection, virus, drug, malignancies, transplantation, and other underlying medical condition. Emerging data indicate dysregulation of alternative complement pathway in atypical HUS, and genetic analyses have identified mutations of several regulatory genes; i.e. the fluid phase complement regulator Factor H (CFH), the integral membrane regulator membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46) and the serine protease Factor I (IF). The uncontrolled activation of the complement alternative pathway results in the excessive consumption of C3. Plasma exchange or plasma infusion is recommended for treatment of, and has dropped the mortality rate. However, overall prognosis is poor, and many patients succumb to end-stage renal disease. Clinical presentations, response to plasma therapy, and outcome after renal transplantation are influenced by the genotype of the complement regulators. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), another type of TMA, occurs mainly in adults as an acquired disease accompanied by fever, neurologic deficits and renal abnormalities. However, less frequent cases of congenital or hereditary TTP associated with ADAMTS-13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease, with thrombospondin 1-like domains 13) gene mutations have been reported, also. Recent advances in molecular genetics better allow various HUS to be distinguished on the basis of their pathogenesis. The genetic analysis of HUS is important in defining the underlying etiology, predicting the genotype-related outcome and optimizing the management of the patients.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2017

Purpose: Kidney transplantation (KT) is an ideal treatment for pediatric patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We report the clinical outcomes of pediatric ESRD patients who underwent KT in a single regional center. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 60 pediatric patients who were diagnosed with ESRD and underwent KT in our hospital between January 1985 and June 2016. Results: A total of 60 children and adolescents (40 male, 20 female; mean age, $13.86{\pm}4.26$ years) were included in this study. Six patients (10.0%) underwent KT immediately after receiving the diagnosis of ESRD, while the others underwent KT after dialysis treatment (mean period of dialysis, $368.7{\pm}4,41.8$ days). The mean donor age (50 living-related [83.3%], 10 deceased [16.7%]) was $40.0{\pm}12.85$ years and the male:female ratio was 1.07:1. The most common cause of ESRD was chronic glomerulonephritis. The overall survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years after KT were 98%, 98%, and 96%, respectively, while the graft survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 93%, 86%, and 68%, respectively. Children who underwent KT before 10 years of age had better monthly growth rates than those who underwent KT later than 10 years of age. Conclusions: KT is performed less frequently in children than in adults, but causes of ESRD vary and clinical outcomes after KT greatly affect the growth and development of pediatric patients. Therefore, further analysis and monitoring of clinical progression after KT in pediatric ESRD patients are necessary.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.98-104
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• 2015

Objective: To find out clinical features and long-term outcomes of idiopathic childhood nephrotic syndrome(NS) patients with late steroid resistance(LSR)/late steroid sensitiveness(LSS). Patients and Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 480 patients diagnosed with idiopathic childhood NS at Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital from 1990 to 2013. Twenty-four patients whose responsiveness to steroids changed over a minimum 2 year follow-up period (2-17.5 years) were investigated. All patients had undergone a renal biopsy. Results: Among 480 nephrotic children, 428 (89%) were sensitive to the first steroid course. Of those who initially responded, 11 (2.5%) developed resistance to steroid therapy after relapses. LSR mostly developed between 1 month and 1 year after the initial episode. Six patients showed a minimal change and five showed focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). Nine (82%) responded to cyclosporine or methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Of these, two had no further relapse, whereas the other seven experienced several relapses that ranged in length from 1.1 to 13.9 years. Three of the nine who initially responded to immunosuppression went on to experience several changes in steroid responsiveness. Two (18%) with resistance to immunosuppressants, including steroids, eventually progressed to end stage renal disease. Among the 52 patients (11%) who were initially steroid resistant, 13 (23%) were converted to steroid sensitive at relapses. Among these, 9 showed minimal change and 4 showed FSGS. Two had no further relapse and the other 11 responded to steroids on subsequent relapses ranging in length from 1.3 to 9.4 years. All these patients have had no further changes in steroid responsiveness with normal renal function. Conclusions: In this study, 2.5% of initial steroid responders and 25% of initial steroid non-responders changed their responsiveness to steroids at subsequent relapses. Eighteen percent of LSR patients developed end stage renal disease. All of the LSS patients showed preserved normal renal function. Responsiveness to immunosuppressants seemed to be the most important factor determining longterm outcomes in LSR/LSS patients.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.51-56
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• 2004

고혈압성 뇌병증은 혈압상승과 함께 두통, 오심, 구토, 시력장애, 경련, 의식 변화 등을 특징으로 하는 급성 신경 증후군으로 소아에서는 대부분 급성 신장염이나 신혈관성 고혈압에 의해 발생하고 지금까지 요로 결석과 동반된 고혈압상 뇌병증의 보고는 없었다. 저자들은 요관 결석과 동반되어 발생한 고혈압성 뇌병증 1례를 경험하였기에 문헌 고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.91-97
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• 2020

Purpose: Alport syndrome (AS) is one of the most common inherited renal diseases caused due to mutations of genes encoding specific proteins of the type IV collagen family, and its major clinical manifestations include progressive renal failure, sensorineural deafness, and ocular abnormalities. We investigated the clinical characteristics and long-term prognosis of AS in Korean pediatric and adult populations. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of medical records of 33 children and adults who had been diagnosed or treated with AS from 1985 to 2019. Results: The mean age of the 33 patients diagnosed with AS was 16.2±13.6 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 2:1. At the first visit, recurrent gross hematuria was the most common initial symptom. In 10 of 33 patients (30.3%), sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was diagnosed, but none had ophthalmic problems. Moreover, 11 of 33 patients (33.3%) had advanced to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and a significant difference was observed in the age of the patients who progressed to ESRD based on the presence or absence of SNHL (P=0.035). Conclusion: SNHL in AS can be an important prognostic factor for long-term deterioration of renal function. Further investigation is required to confirm the clinical course and the genetic characteristics of AS in Korea through prospective national cohort studies.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권11호
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• pp.1260-1266
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• 2009

목 적 : 특발성 신증후군은 소아의 가장 흔한 일차성 사구체 질환 중의 하나이다. 신증후군은 초기 경구 스테로이드 치료에 대한 반응에 따라서 임상적으로 스테로이드 반응성 신증후군과 스테로이드 저항성 신증후군으로 분류될 수 있다. 그러나 현재까지 신증후군에서 스테로이드의 정확한 작용 기전은 알려져 있지 않다. 신증후군 환자를 대상으로 여러 가지 유전자 다형성을 분석함으로써 스테로이드 치료에 대한 반응의 차이를 설명하려는 여러 시도들이 있어왔다. 방 법 : 본 연구에서는 190명의 신증후군 환자를 대상으로 NR3C1 유전자 다형성(ER22/23EK, N363S, BclI)을 확인하여 유전형과 임상-병리 양상의 연관성에 대해서 분석하였다. 결 과 : 신증후군 환자의 평균 연령은 4.95세였고 남아가 134명이었다. 11명의 환자는 신증후군의 가족력이 있었다. 그러나 이 환자들을 대상으로 NPHS2, WT1, ACTN4, TRPC6 유전자 분석을 시행한 결과 이상 소견은 발견되지 않았다. 80명의 환자(42.1%)는 초기 스테로이드 저항성이었고 그 중 31명의 환자는 말기 신질환으로 진행하였다. 신장 조직 검사는 113명의 환자를 대상으로 시행되었고 그 중 36명의 환자(31.9%)는 미세변화 신증후군이었고 77명의 환자(68.1%)는 초점성 분절성 사구체 경화증이었다. BclI 유전형을 비교하였을 때 G allele 빈도는 환자군과 대조군에서 차이가 없었다. ER22/23EK과 N363S 유전형은 각각 ER/ER과 NN으로 환자군과 대조군에서 동일한 양상을 보였다. BclI 유전형은 신증후군의 발병 나이, 초기 스테로이드 반응 여부, 신장의 병리학적 소견, 말기 신질환으로의 진행여부와 연관성을 보이지 않았다. 결 론 : 한국 신증후군 환아를 대상으로 한 이 연구 결과는 NR3C1 유전자의 ER22/23EK, N363S 및 BclI 유전자 다형성이 신증후군의 발병, 초기 스테로이드 치료에 대한 반응, 신장의 조직학적 소견 및 신 기능의 저하에 영향을 미치지 않음을 보여준다.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.92-101
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• 2000

목 적 : 우리나라 소아 만성신부전 환자의 빈도와 원인, 결과, 현재까지의 치료실태 등 임상양상을 전국적으로 파악하여 소아 만성신부전증에 대한 이해를 돕고 이에 대한 앞으로의 치료방침을 세우는데 있다. 방 법 : 전국 소아과 수련병원을 대상으로 1990년 1월부터 1999년 12월까지 만 10년간 만성신부전 환자에 대한 자료를 설문지를 통해 수집하여 원인질환, 만성신부전시의 연령 및 혈청크레아티닌치, 말기신부전시의 연령 및 혈청크레아티닌치, 치료실태 등을 분석하였다. 결 과 : 최근 10년간의 소아 만성신부전 환자는 401명으로 남아 254명, 여아 147명이었으며 1년에 소아인구 백만명 당 3.68 명의 만성신부전 환자가 발생하였다. 만성신부전시의 연령은 5세 미만은 22$\%$, 5세에서 10세는 28$\%$, 10세에서 15세는 50$\%$ 이었다. 원인질환으로는 사구체신염 (36$\%$), 만성 신우신염 (21$\%$), 신이형성 및 신형성부전 (9$\%$) 순이었고 단일 신질환으로는 역류성 신병증 (16$\%$), 소상 분절성 사구체경화증 (11$\%$) 등이 흔하였다. 말기신부전에 이른 284명중 282예에서 신대체요법이 시행되었다. 일차적으로 선택된 신대체요법은 혈액투석이 42$\%$. 복막투석이 35$\%$, 신이식이 23$\%$ 이었고 말기신부전 환아 중 159명 (56$\%$)에서 신이식이 시행되었다(1차 신이식 159명, 2차 신이식 2명). 평균 신대체요법의 기간은 $3년\;1개월{\pm}2년\;8개월$이었고 신대체요법을 받은 환아의 생존률은 88.7$\%$ 이었다. 결 론 : 우리나라 소아 만성신부전의 가장 흔한 단일 신질환은 역류성 신병증으로 조기 진단 및 치료로 만성신부전으로의 진행을 예방할 수 있는 질환이었다. 소아 말기신부전 환자에서 일차적으로 선택한 신대체요법은 혈액투석, 복막투석 및 신이식이 각각 $42\%,\;35\%,\;23\%$ 이었고 궁극적으로 신이식을 시행받았던 환아는 전체환자의 56$\%$로써 투식 및 신이식이 우리나라 소아 말기신부전 환아의 주된 치료법으로 자리잡았음을 알 수 있었다.