BK virus (BKV) is recognized as a significant cause of renal allograft dysfunction in adults, and there is growing awareness of its importance in the pediatric population. Eighteen pediatric renal transplant recipients and 18 age-matched controls were prospectively studied. Anti-BKV immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM titres were assayed in all subjects at entry to the study. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for BKV DNA was performed on urine and serum at entry, and prospectively tested again at 4, 8 and 12 months. Mean age +/- s.d. of transplant recipients and controls was 14.6 +/- 3.3 and 13.9 +/- 0.33 yr respectively [not significant (NS)]. Transplant patients were studied at a mean time of 5.6 +/- 4.2 yr post-transplant. 56% of transplant patients and 39% of controls were seropositive (+ve BKV IgG) (NS). Plasma BKV PCR was positive in one transplant patient (who also had positive urine PCR) and in none of the controls. The prevalence of positive urine PCR in transplant patients was greater than in controls (33% vs. 0%, p = 0.02). Positive urine BKV PCR was more commonly found in patients treated with mycophenolate than azathioprine (p = 0.04). We conclude that the prevalence of BKV seropositivity and viral activation in this Australian pediatric renal transplant population is similar to that reported in adult and pediatric populations in other countries. BK viruria was more common in children with greater immunosuppression, suggesting that this group is at higher risk of BKV induced nephropathy.

Loss of appetite and poor growth are common in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD), and changes in smell and/or taste function may be responsible, but the hypothesis has not been proven. This aims of this prospective age- and gender-controlled study were to determine whether: (1) changes in smell and taste function occur in children with CKD; (2) smell or taste dysfunction are associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); (3) there is an association between smell or taste loss and body mass index (BMI). The study cohort consisted of 72 children of whom 20 were CKD stage 3-5 patients, 12 were CKD stage 2 patients, 20 were clinical controls (CC) and 20 were healthy children (HC). The CKD patients and clinical controls were recruited from Sydney Children's Hospital and The Children's Hospital, Westmead, and healthy controls were recruited from a local school. Scores for each group from taste and smell chemosensory function tests were compared, and their relationship with renal function and BMI investigated. The CKD stage 3-5 group had a significantly lower taste identification score (85.6%, P< 0.001) than the CC (94.8%) and HC (94.8%) groups, with almost one third of the children in the CKD stage 3-5 group exhibiting taste loss. Decreased taste function was associated with decreased eGFR (r = 0.43, P < 0.01), but no association between BMI and taste function was found (r = 0.001, P > 0.9). Odour identification scores were not different; however, there was a positive relationship with BMI (r = 0.427, P = 0.006). We conclude that a loss of taste can occur in children with CKD and that when it occurs, it worsens as eGFR declines and is found early in kidney disease.

Growth hormone (GH), either directly or through insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), has a wide spectrum of physiological and renal effects. This review concentrates on the effects of GH (derived from either pituitary or recombinant technology) and IGF-1 in three main areas: (1) sodium and water homeostasis; (2) calcium and phosphate balance, bone density and interactions with mineral regulating hormones; (3) fat and lean body mass. Observations of physiological changes in states of GH deficiency and excess in humans and animal models are presented. The lack of long-term toxicological data indicates that GH treatment for short stature in non-GH deficient children, with or without renal disease, should proceed with caution.

Most cases of facial nerve paresis are idiopathic (Bell's palsy). However, rare and potentially dangerous conditions may present in this manner. We report 2 children presenting with unilateral lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy and hypertension. A diagnosis of Guillain-Barre syndrome was made in both; literature linking facial nerve palsy in childhood with hypertension and Guillain-Barre syndrome is reviewed.

Serum cystatin C more accurately reflects glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in pediatric renal transplant recipients than serum creatinine. Nineteen pediatric renal transplant recipients, 15 male and 4 female, ranging in age from 8.35 yr to 19.06 yr (median 13.52 yr), were enrolled in the study over an 18-month period. Twenty-eight measurements of 99mTc-DTPA GFR were compared with simultaneous measurements of serum cystatin C and Cr. Linear regression analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and analysis of variance (anova) were used to determine the relationship between creatinine, cystatin C and GFR. The correlation coefficients (R2) for the relationship of 1/Cr to DTPA-GFR and for 1/cystatin C to DTPA-GFR were 0.63 and 0.58, respectively. There was no significant difference between serum cystatin C and serum creatinine as markers of GFR. Serum cystatin C, which costs more to measure than serum creatinine, offers no advantage in monitoring the renal function of pediatric renal transplant recipients.