Han JH, et al. Yonsei Med J. 2022 Jul;63(7):640-647. https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2022.63.7.640

Shin JE, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2020 Jul;35(32):e253. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e253

Aims: To identify the predictive factors for ciclosporin A (CyA)-associated nephrotoxicity (CAN) in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS). Methods: The clinical and laboratory findings of 58 children (median age 3.2 years, range 1.1–13.1 years, male:female 48:10) with MCNS who were treated with CyA from 1992 to 2002 were analysed retrospectively. Forty-eight (83%) of them were steroid dependent and 10 (17%) were steroid resistant. The starting dose of CyA was 5 mg/kg per day, and the desired drug level was kept at 100–200 ng/ml. Serial renal biopsies were performed before and after CyA therapy. Results: Twenty-two patients (38%) had CAN (group I) and 36 (62%) did not (group II). There were no differences in the age at onset, sex, initial response to steroids, duration of CyA therapy and relapse rates. However, the median CyA trough levels were significantly higher in group I than in group II (218.0±15.2 vs 171.8±6.7 ng/ml, p=0.01). Changes in creatinine clearance were more decreased in group I than in group II (−39.4±8.2 vs 2.7±4.3 ml/min per 1.73 m ² , p<0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis also revealed the median CyA trough level was an independent risk factor for the development of CAN (OR 1.025, 95% CI 1.007 to 1.044, p=0.007). Conclusions: The median CyA trough level was an independent and significant risk factor for the development of CAN in children with MCNS receiving moderate-dose CyA.

This study aimed to investigate the nationwide growth pattern of infants in Korea according to the birth-weight group and to analyze the effect of growth on development. A total of 430,541 infants, born in 2013 and who received the infant health check-up regularly from 6 months to 60 months of age, were included. The weight, height, head circumferences percentiles, and neurodevelopment using screening tests results were compared among the birth-weight groups. Using longitudinal analysis, the study found a significant difference in height, weight, and head circumference, respectively, according to age at health check-up, birth weight group, and combination of age and birth weight (p < 0.001). The growth parameters at 60 months of age showed a significant correlation with those at 6 months of age especially in extremely low birth weight infants. The incidence of suspected developmental delay was significantly higher in infants with growth below the 10th percentiles than in those with growth above the 10th percentiles. Among 4571 (1.6%) infants with suspected developmental delay results at 60 months of age, birth weight, sex, and poor growth parameters were confirmed as associated factors. This nationwide Korean study shows that poor growth and neurodevelopment outcomes persisted among low-birth-weight infants at 60 months of age. Our findings provide guidance for developing a nationwide follow-up program for infants with perinatal risk factors in Korea.

Cho KH, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2021 Nov;36(47):e320. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e320