• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.48-55
• /
• 2002

Purpose: Thin glomerular basement membrane nephropathy (TGBMN) is recognized as the leading cause of microscopic hematuria in both children and adults. However thinning of glomerular basement membrane (TCBM) has been found in healthy adult and also is known to be associated with various renal diseases such as Alport syndronh, IgA nephropathy and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. The association of TGBM with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) has been very rare so that the present study was undertaken to determine the relationship between TGBM and MCNS. Methods: The study population consisted of 49 children with biopsy- proven MCNS who have been admitted to the pediatric department of Kyungpook University Hospital during the past 5 years from 1997 to 2001. Group I consisted of 8 children associated with TGBM and Group II 41 children without TCBM. Various parameters such as age of illness, duration from discovery of illness to the time of biopsy, family history of hematuria and other laboratory tests were compared between these two groups and the following results were obtained. Results: Age distribution showed slightly older age in Group I ($7.1{\pm}3.5$ years) compared to Group II ($4.8{\pm}2.9$ years). However this was not statistically different (P=0.056). Family history of hematuria was noted in 2 cases in Group II. Though statistically not significant, hematuria was seen in 2 out of 8 cases ($25\%$) in MCNS children with TGBM, compared to 7 out of 41 cases ($17\%$) with MCNS children without TGBM. Other parameters such as BUN, creatinine, 24 hours urine protein excretion, serum protein, albumin, cholesterol, and T4/T8 ratio, showed no difference. Also renal biopsy finding showed no significant difference and the thickness of glomerular basement membrane in Croup I was $188{\pm}30nm$. Conclusion: TGBM was found in 8 out of 49 children with MCNS ($16.3\%$). And this high frequency of occurrence indicates that these association is not an incidental findings. Typical clinical findings of TCBMN was not noted in all of the 8 children with MCNS associated with TGBM, suggesting that thinning of glomerular basement membrane (TCBN) is secondary to rather than the cause of MCNS. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2002;6: 48-55)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.6
• /
• pp.606-613
• /
• 2005

Purpose : Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis(APSGN) is a common form of glomerulonephritis in children. Most patients recover completely after the acute phase but a few patients have acute complications or progress to chronic renal disease. In recent years, the frequency of APSGN has been was decreasing but is still common in children. So we studied the clinical characteristics of APSGN from 1994 to 2003 and compared it with past studies. Methods : We studied 105 patients who were diagnosed with APSGN in the Department of Pediatrics, Asan Medical Center between January 1994 and December 2003, with a retrospective chart review. Results : The mean age was $8.5{\pm}2.6$ years. The male to female ratio was 2 : 1. Average annual incidence was $10.5{\pm}4.9$ most patients(60.0 percent) occurred from October to January. Edema was seen in 82 cases(78.1 percent), gross hematuria in 70 cases(66.7 percent), hypertension in 50 cases (47.6 percent) and oliguria in 22 cases(20.9 percent). Microscopic hematuria was seen in 105 cases (100 percent), positive ASO in 99 cases(94.2 percent), proteinuria in 67 cases(63.8 percent) and azotemia in 38 cases(36.2 percent). Serum complement 3(C3) level decreased in 96 cases and returned to normal within eight weeks in 70 patients(75.3 percent). Kidney biopsy was carried out in 22 cases. Most acute symptoms subsided within 2 weeks of onset. Conclusion : We concluded that there was no significant difference between clinical features of recent and past APSGN in children, and short term prognoses were excellent.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.152-161
• /
• 2006

Purpose : In Korea, the school urine screening program is a useful tool for screening urine abnormalities. It is particularly useful in early detection of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis(MPGN) I, which frequently progresses to chronic renal failure. In this study, we studied the medical history, laboratory findings, and histologic findings of MPGN to gain helpful information on early detection and treatment. Methods : The subjects were 19 children, who were diagnosed with MPGN from kidney biopsies that were performed in ten nationwide university hospitals because of abnormal urine findings from school urine screening programs conducted from July 1999 to April 2004. We divided the patients into 2 groups, a nephrotic range proteinuria group(n=8) and a non-nephrotic proteinuria group(n=11), and retrospectively analyzed the clinical features, laboratory findings, histologic findings, treatment, and clinical course. Results : The mean age at the first abnormal urinalysis was $10.6{\pm}2.2$ years in the nephrotic proteinuria group and $9.6{\pm}3.2$ years in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group. The mean age at the time of kidney biopsy was $11.3{\pm}2.3$ years in the nephrotic range proteinuria group and $10.4{\pm}3.2$ years in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group respectively. There was no significant difference in the mean age and sex between the two groups. In the nephrotic proteinuria group, 6 children had a low plasma C3 level and in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group, 8 children had a low plasma C3 level, but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. There was no significant difference in the laboratory test results(including WBC count, RBC count, platelet count and other serologic tests) between the 2 groups except for 24 hour urine protein secretion. There was no difference between the 2 groups with regard to the acute and chronic changes in the glomerulus on light microscopic findings, IgG, IgA, Ig M, C1q, C3, C4, fibrogen deposition on immunofluoroscence findings, and mesangial deposits, subendothelial deposits, and subepithelial deposits on electron microscopic findings. The children were treated with corticosteroids, ACE(angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors, dipyridamole and other immunosuppressive agents. During the course of treatment, there were no children whose clinical condition worsened. Among 19 children, 3 children went into remission(2 in the nephrotic proteinuria group, 1 in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group) and 9 children went into a partial remission(4 in the nephrotic proteinuria group, 5 in the non-nephrotic proteinuria group) on urinalysis. There was no significant difference in the treatment results between the two groups. Conclusion : The 73.7% of children who were incidentally diagnosed with MPGN by the school urine screening program had reduced C3. 42.1% of the children had nephrotic range proteinuria. There were no significant differences in clinical features, laboratory test results, light microscopic, immunofluorescence microscopic, and electron microscopic findings between the nephrotic proteinuria group and the non-nephrotic proteinuria group except for the 24 hour urine protein secretion. Therefore, for early detection of MPGN during the school urine screening program, we strongly recommend a kidney biopsy if children have abnormal urine findings such as persistent proteinuria and persistent hematuria, or if the serum C3 is reduced.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.239-243
• /
• 2004

Acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis(APSGN) is the most common form of postinfectious glomerulonephritis, and acute pyelonephritis(APN) is the most severe form of urinary tract infection in childhood. However, the concurrence of two diseases is uncommon in the literature. We describe a case of APSGN accompanied with APN in a 5-year-old female who presented with fever, left flank pain, headache and facial edema. Urinalysis showed pyuria, microscopic hematuria, and mild proteinulra. Serial urine cultures grew Escherichia coli. ${^99m}$Tc-DMSA renal scan revealed a cortical defect in the upper pole of left kidney. She had a history of preceding pharyngitis, in addition, showed high blood pressure, high anti-streptolysin 0 titer, and low serum complement levels. The patient improved completely with supportive treatment, Including antibiotic and antihypertensive therapy. These findings suggested that APSGN and APN could be manifested simultaneously or be .superimposed on each other.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.50 no.12
• /
• pp.1180-1187
• /
• 2007

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an episodic, multi-system, autoimmune disease characterized by widespread inflammation of blood vessels and connective tissues and by the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), especially antibodies to native (double-stranded) DNA (dsDNA). Its clinical manifestations are extremely variable, and its natural history is unpredictable. Untreated, SLE is often progressive and has a significant fatality rate. The most widely used criteria for the classification of SLE are those of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), which were revised in 1982 and modified in 1997. The presence of four criteria have been diagnosed as a SLE. Rashes are common at onset and during active disease. The oral mucosa is the site of ulceration with SLE. Arthralgia and arthritis affect most children and these symptoms are short in duration and can be migratory. Lupus nephritis may be more frequent and of greater severity in children than in adults. The initial manifestation of nephritis is microscopic hematuria, followed by proteinuria. The most common neuropsychiatric symptoms are depression, psychosis(hallucination and paranoia) and headache. CNS disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Pericarditis is the most common cardiac manifestation. Libman-Sacks endocarditis is less common in children. The most frequently described pleuropulmonary manifestations are pleural effusions, pleuritis, pneunonitis and pulmonary hemorrhage. During the active phase ESR, CRP, gamma globulin, ferritin and anti-dsDNA are elevated. Antibodies to dsDNA occur in children with active nephritis. Antibodies to the extractable nuclear antigens (Sm, Ro/SS-A, La/SS-B) are strongly associated with SLE. Specific treatment should be individualized and based on the severity of the disease. Sepsis has replaced renal failure as the most common cause of death.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.13-18
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis and affects many organ systems. It often presents sterile pyuria, microscopic hematuria, and proteinuria due to renal involvement. The aims of this study were to define clinical characteristics of acute KD patients with pyuria and to analyze meaning of pyuria in KD. Methods: The medical records and laboratory findings including serum and urine test of 133 patients with KD admitted to Yeungnam University Hospital from March 2006 to December 2010 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Forty patients had sterile pyuria and their clinical characteristics including age, gender and body weight were not significantly different with those who did not have pyuria. Fever duration after treatment was significantly longer in KD patients with pyuria. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein and serum concentration of alanine aminotransferase were significantly higher in patients with pyuria. Hyponatremia and coronary artery lesion were seen more often in patients with pyuria but there was no significant difference. Also serum blood urea nitrogen was significantly higher in KD patients with pyuria. Urine ${\beta}_2$-microglobulin was elevated in both patients groups and showed no difference between two groups. Conclusion: We found more severe inflammatory reaction in KD patients with pyuria. We also found elevation of some useful parameters like ${\beta}_2$-microglobulin that indicate renal involvement of KD through the urine test. Careful management and follow up will need for KD patients with pyuria and it is necessary in the future to study the specific parameters for renal involvement of KD.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.325-332
• /
• 1986

Since Combes' first description of hepatitis B virus associated membranous glomerulonephritis, many reports have shown a strong association of hepatitis B virus infection with various types of nephropathies, especially membranous glomerulonephritis and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Recently, the authors experienced a case of membraoproliferative glomerulonephritis, type I in a 16-year-old male patient with persistent HBs and HBe antigenemia. One year prior to admission the patient was told of hepatitis at routine check, but he remained asymptomatic throughout. He was admitted to our hospital with chief complaints of proteinuria and microscopic hematuria found on routine urinalysis. Liver and kidney biopsy revealed chronic persistent hepatitis and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type I, respectively. We report a case of hepatitis B virus associated nephropathy with review of the literatures. Considering the endemic nature of hepatitis B virus infection in Korea, the incidence of hepatitis B viurs associated nephropathy would be proportionally high in comparison with those of other countries. So, the importance of this entity merits special consideration in our country. Further study concerning pathogenesis, epidemiology, and treatment may be needed.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.250-255
• /
• 2008

Diabetes mellitus(DM) is a metabolic syndrome caused by deficiency of insulin secretion and a consequence of insulin resistance. Poor glycemic control is a common finding in children with Type 1 DM(T1DM). Approximately 60% of the young patients with T1DM develop abnormalities in the eyes and 15-20% in the kidney. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a serious metabolic complication of T1DM that leads to renal failure. Some clinical studies report that the duration of prepubertal diabetes may contribute less to the development of microvascular complications than pubertal and postpubertal duration. There have been few cases of DN in prepubertal patients with T1DM in Korea. Thus we report a case of a 12-year-old female with T1DM who had poor glycemic control and was diagnosed as DN in a prepubertal period. It was proven by renal biopsy after microscopic hematuria and proteinuria were detected through the mass school urinary screening program.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.461-466
• /
• 1996

Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage is a very rare manifestation in Henoch-Schoenlein purpura. Recently we experience a case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage associated with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura which was diagnosed by typical clinical manifestation and renal biopsy. A 25 year old male was admitted due to hemoptysis and dyspnea. Chest X-ray, HRCT and BAL revealed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. He also had a history of skin rash, polyarthralgia, and hematochezia with abdominal pain. Renal biopsy which was taken for the evaluation of microscopic hematuria showed IgA nephropathy. Under the diagnosis of Henoch-Schoenlein purpura, we treated him with solumedrol pulse therapy, plasma-pheresis and prednisolone with cytoxan. After then he showed marked improvement in clinical manifestation and was discharged with prednisolone and cytoxan.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.35 no.1
• /
• pp.84-88
• /
• 2018

A 33-year-old woman visited the emergency department presenting with fever and dyspnea. She was pregnant with gestational age of 31 weeks and 6 days. She had dysuria for 7 days, and fever and dyspnea for 1 day. The vital signs were as follows: blood pressure 110/70 mmHg, heart rate 118 beats/minute, respiratory rate 28/minute, body temperature $38.7^{\circ}C$, and oxygen saturation by pulse oximetry 84% during inhalation of 5 liters of oxygen by nasal prongs. Crackles were heard over both lung fields. There were no signs of uterine contractions. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography scan showed multiple consolidations and air bronchograms in both lungs. According to urinalysis, there was pyuria and microscopic hematuria. She was diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and urinary tract infection (UTI) that progressed to severe sepsis and acute respiratory failure. We found extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in the blood culture and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the sputum culture. The patient was transferred to the intensive care unit with administration of antibiotics and supplementation of high-flow oxygen. On hospital day 2, hypoxemia was aggravated. She underwent endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. After 3 hours, fetal distress was suspected. Under 100% fraction of inspired oxygen, her oxygen partial pressure was 87 mmHg in the arterial blood. She developed acute kidney injury and thrombocytopenia. We diagnosed her with multi-organ failure due to severe sepsis. After an emergent cesarean section, pneumonia, UTI, and other organ failures gradually recovered. The patient and baby were discharged soon thereafter.