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As an initial effort to identify opportunities to improve the management of children with nephrotic syndrome, the goal of this study was to assess the present-day management of children with primary nephrotic syndrome. A web-based survey was designed to assess the current management styles of all pediatric nephrology faculties at ten participating institutions. Ninety-one percent completed the initial survey. The duration of initial glucocorticoid therapy ranged from 4 to 24 weeks. Physicians reported that the recommendation for kidney biopsy was dependent on the response to initial corticosteroid therapy, with the minority always recommending a biopsy for frequently relapsing or steroid-dependent cases. All responding physicians recommended a kidney biopsy in steroid-resistant cases. Treatment strategies were reported to vary based upon the steroid response pattern and, where available, kidney histopathology. Striking variations in therapeutic preferences were described when alternatives to glucocorticoids were considered. The variability of management practices among pediatric nephrologists in the USA combined with the changing characteristics of our pediatric population raise concerns about our future strategies for improving healthcare for children coping with nephrotic syndrome. This variability is not unique to children’s healthcare or to nephrology. However, a systematic approach to patient care and improvement in health outcomes has been shown to substantially improve morbidity and mortality outcomes in children with chronic health conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is frequent in pediatric patients receiving dialysis, with an especially high rate reported in children on hemodialysis (HD). We performed the present study to assess blood pressure (BP) status and identify risk factors for poor BP control in children on maintenance HD. One month’s dialysis records were collected from 71 subjects receiving HD in ten dialysis units participating in the Midwest Pediatric Nephrology Consortium (MWPNC). For each HD session, data on pre- and posttreatment weights and BPs were recorded. Hypertension, defined as mean BP ≥ 95th percentile, was found in 42 (59%) subjects. Eleven subjects (15.5%) had prehypertension, defined as mean BP between the 90th and 95th percentiles, while 18 subjects (25.3%) had normal BP (<90th percentile). BP significantly decreased at the end of a dialysis session; however, only 15 of 42 hypertensive subjects (35%) normalized their BP. Hypertensive subjects were younger ( p = 0.03), had higher serum phosphorus ( p = 0.01), and had more elevated posttreatment weight above estimated dry weight ( p = 0.02). Logistic regression showed that younger age ( p = 0.02) and higher serum phosphorus ( p = 0.02) independently predicted hypertensive status. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the difficulty of BP control in pediatric HD patients. Especially poor BP control was found in younger children; those patients who do not reach their posttreatment weight goals, perhaps reflecting their hypervolemic state; and those who have higher serum phosphorus levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is associated with the development of hypertension but it is still not clear why hypertension is not observed in all obese patients. Obesity is a risk factor for the development of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children. OSAS has been linked to the development of hypertension in adults and children. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that OSAS is one of the reasons that some obese children are hypertensive and some are not. The overnight polysomnography records of 90 patients (aged 4.2–18.8 years) were reviewed. BMIscore [body mass index (BMI)/95th percentile BMI for age, sex, and race] was used to express the degree of obesity. The severity of systolic hypertension and diastolic hypertension were expressed as SBPscore (systolic BP/the 95th percentile systolic BP for age, sex, and height) and DBPscore (diastolic BP/the 95th percentile diastolic BP for age, sex, and height), respectively. OSAS was defined as more than one episodes of apnea per hour (AI) or an O2 saturation associated with obstructive apnea of less than 90%. There were 56 obese patients; 42 were hypertensive and 40 patients were diagnosed with OSAS. The incidence of hypertension (68% vs. 30%) and obesity (75% vs. 52%) was higher in OSAS patients than those without OSAS. Compared with the non-obese patients, obese patients had a higher incidence of hypertension or OSAS, a higher BMIscore, SBPscore, DBPscore, AI, hypopnea index (HI), and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). In obese patients, both SBPscore and DBPscore correlated positively with BMIscore, arousal index, and HI. DBPscore also correlated positively with AHI. Multiple regression analysis showed that HI and BMIscore were significant independent predictors of SBPscore or DBPscore. Obese and hypertensive patients had a higher HI, AHI, and incidence of OSAS (64% vs. 29%) than the obese and normotensive patients. In conclusion, HI had a significant correlation with the degree of hypertension in obese patients, which could not be attributed to the degree of obesity. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that OSAS is one of the reasons why some obese children are hypertensive and some are not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]