Erratum to: Evaluation of cardiac functions in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus with two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography

Clinical Rheumatology -     

Cardiovascular risk assessment in children and adolescents with congenital solitary kidneys

Patients with solitary kidneys (SKs) are at risk of hypertension (HT) and associated end‐organ damage. The authors aimed to evaluate whether children with congenital SKs (CSKs) have higher office, ambulatory, or central blood pressure (BP), increased arterial stiffness or left ventricular mass index, or any risk for arrhythmia. With this purpose, patients with CSK and healthy controls being followed up between January 2018 and June 2019 were enrolled in the study. Demographic, biochemical, and office blood pressure (BP) data were recorded. Then, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and measurements of central BP (cBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), and augmentation index (AIx@75) were obtained. Ventricular repolarization parameters were acquired by 12‐lead electrocardiography. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and abdominal aortic stiffness parameters including strain, pressure strain elastic modulus (Ep), and normalized Ep (Ep*) were calculated with echocardiographic measurements. Finally, 36 children with CSK and 36 healthy controls were included. Serum creatinine, uric acid, total cholesterol levels, ABPM parameters, cBP levels, and PWV values were significantly higher, and eGFR levels were significantly lower in the CSK group. VR parameters, abdominal aortic stiffness indices, and LVMI were similar between the groups. CSK increased the risk of HT in ABPM (HT_ABPM) by 6 times. PWV was significantly correlated with Ep and Ep* in cases with CSK. Determination of cBP and PWV along with 24‐hour ABPM would be a useful tool in children with CSK.     

Immediate and Follow‐Up Results of Repeat Percutaneous Mitral Balloon Commissurotomy for Restenosis After a Succesful First Procedure

Background: The widespread use of percutaneous mitral commissurotomy (PMC) has led to an increase in restenosis cases. The data regarding follow‐up results of repeat PMC are quite limited. The aim of this retrospective analysis is to evaluate the immediate and midterm results of the second PMC, in patients with symptomatic mitral restenosis after a succesful first procedure. Methods: Twenty patients (95% female, mean age 37 ± 4 years) who have undergone a second PMC, 6.3 ± 2.5 years after a first successful intervention built the study group. All were in sinus rhythm, with a mean Wilkins score of 8.5 ± 1.2. Results: The valve area increased from 1.2 ± 0.2 to 1.9 ± 0.2 cm² and mean gradient decreased from 10.5 ± 3.4 to 6.1 ± 1.1 mmHg. There were no complications except for a transient embolic event without sequela (5%) and two cases (10%) of severe mitral regurgitation. The immediate success rate was 90%. The mean follow‐up was 70 ± 29 months (36–156 months). The 5‐year restenosis and intervention (repeat PMC or valve replacement) rates were 9.1 ± 5.2% and 3.6 ± 3.3%, respectively. The intervention free 5‐year survival in good functional capacity (New York Heart Association [NYHA] I–II) was 95.1 ± 5.5% and restenosis and intervention free 5‐year survival with good functional capacity was 89.7 ± 6.8%. Conclusions: Although from a limited number of selected patients, these findings indicate that repeat PMC is a safe and effective method, with follow‐up results similar to a first intervention and should be considered as the first therapeutic option in suitable patients. (Echocardiography 2010;27:765‐769)     

A Chryseobacterium meningosepticum outbreak observed in 3 clusters involving both neonatal and non-neonatal pediatric patients

Three clusters of Chryseobacterium meningosepticum infections in a tertiary health center in July 2006 and January 2007 involving 8 newborns and 5 older children were investigated. The index patient was from the neonatal intensive care unit, and the older patients were from other pediatric wards. Cultures were obtained from the environment and from health care workers' hands as part of an outbreak investigation. C meningosepticum was isolated from hand cultures obtained from a senior resident and from environmental cultures obtained from powdered infant formula, an electrical button, a computer keyboard, phone, a doorknob, and an Ambu bag. Antibiogram typing and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence polymerase chain reaction indicated that all of the isolates were epidemiologically related. Nine patients improved on antimicrobial treatment, and 4 premature infants died after the infection. C meningosepticum is a well-known etiologic agent for nosocomial infections involving newborns and immunocompromised patients. Wet and dry environmental surfaces and equipment may act as a source or play a role in disseminating the microorganism. Outbreaks may be controlled with strong emphasis on infection control measures.     

CerebralDermabacter hominis abscess

Summary Dermabacter species are commonly isolated from the skin and other body sites but rarely show pathogenicity in humans. A case ofDermabacter hominis cerebral abscess is reported which presented as a contrast-enhancing intracranial mass in a renal tranplant patient.