A total of 254 children with cholelithiasis (mean age: 8.9 ± 5.2 years) were recruited to the study. Girls (52.8%) were significantly older than boys (P < 0.001). Symptomatic patients (59%) were significantly older than asymptomatic patients (P = 0.002). Abdominal pain was the most frequent symptom. No risk factors were identified in 56.6% of the patients. Ceftriaxone (20%) was the most commonly associated risk factor. At presentation, at least one of the following complications was seen in 14.1% of patients: cholecystitis (10.9%), obstructive jaundice (2.7%), pancreatitis (1.96%) and cholangitis (1.2%). There was no relationship between gallstone size and symptoms, aetiological factors and complications. The cholelithiasis dissolution rate was higher in younger children (P = 0.032), in those with biliary sludge (P < 0.0001) and ceftriaxone-related cholelithiasis (P < 0.001). Haemolytic anaemia (P = 0.001) and older age (P = 0.002) were associated with stable stones. Ursodeoxycholic acid was administered to 94.4% of patients at presentation. Twenty-nine patients underwent cholecystectomy, and seven patients underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreotography. Patients who were symptomatic at presentation had significantly more frequent symptoms at follow-up (P < 0.001) CONCLUSIONS: Dissolution rate of cholelithiasis was higher in younger children, biliary sludge formation and ceftriaxone-related cholelithiasis but lower in older children and haemolytic anaemia-related cholelithiasis.

Although T2* MRI is the most sensitive test detecting myocardial iron load, TDI and STE can be used for screening myocardial dysfunction. The abnormal strain values, especially circumferential, may be detected as the first finding of abnormal iron load and related to T2* values.

Elevated serum prohepcidin might indicate the role of inflammation in the etiology of anemia concurrent with HP.

The endocrinological complications in β-thalassemia major patients do affect the life quality to a large extend. In this study, the endocrinological complications of 47 β-thalassemia patients, who have been followed-up at our hospital's pediatric hematology department, were evaluated. Out of β-thalassemia major cases included to this study, the 55.3% was male and 44.7% was female. The patients' mean levels of ferritin, whose mean age was 10.0 ± 4.5 years (2-20 years), were 2497 ± 1469 ng/mL (472-8558 ng/mL). At least one endocrinological pathology in 27 out of 47 (57.4%) and more than one endocrinological pathology in 14 out of 47 (29.7%) thalassemia patients were observed. The most frequently observed complication in followed-up cases was vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency (78.2%). The other complications in decreasing order were pubertal failure (41.6%), growth retardation (25.5%), decreased bone-mineral density (22.2%), secondary hyperparathyroidism (11.5%), overt hypothyroidism (4.25%), subclinical hypothyroidism (2.12%), and impaired glucose tolerance (2.12%). There was no statistically significant difference between serum mean ferritin level and endocrin complications (P > .05). Four patients (8.5%) had decreased signal intensity in pituitary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) but this finding was not associated with ferritin levels (P = .87). MRI parameters were similar between patients with and without gonadal dysfunction. Mean height of the pituitary gland was 4.98 ± 1.1 mm (3-9 mm) and this was similar to those normal values in the literature. Ferritin levels were not correlated with pituitary height (P > .05). Beta thalassemia major, having the potential of leading to multisystemic complications, is a chronic disease that should be treated and followed-up by a multidisciplinary approach. Due to frequently encountered endocrinological complications, beta thalassemic patients should be followed-up regularly by hematology and endocrinology departments in coordination.

Objective: To review our experience with typhlitis among children treated for acute leukemia. Material and Methods: The medical records of children with acute leukemia and typhlitis between 2006 and 2009 were reviewed for demographics and symptoms, and for microbiological and imaging findings. Results: In the 75 children with acute leukemia – 54 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 21 with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) – there were 10 episodes of typhlitis (4.5%) that developed during 221 periods of severe neutropenia. The cumulative risk of typhlitis was 7.4% in patients with ALL and 28.5% in patients with AML. Frequent symptoms were: abdominal pain and tenderness (100% each); fever and nausea (90% each); emesis (80%); diarrhea (50%), and hypotension, peritonitis and abdominal distension (10% each). The median duration of symptoms was 6 days (range: 2–11 days), and that of neutropenia 14 days (range: 3–25 days). All patients were treated medically and none surgically. Two patients died because of typhlitis and sepsis. Conclusions: In our study, the rate of typhlitis among leukemic children was 4.5%; however, the mortality rate was 20%. Thus, rapid identification and timely, aggressive medical intervention are necessary to reduce the morbidity and mortality from typhlitis.

Improvement in long-term survival in patients with acute childhood leukemia has led to the need for monitorization of chemotherapy-related morbidity and mortality. This study included 60 patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia that were in remission for at least 2 years and 30 healthy controls. Systolic and diastolic function of myocardium was evaluated using conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging of the left ventricle, interventricular septum and right ventricle. Median age of patients was 11.7 years (range 10-14.9 years), and the median duration of remission was 4 years (range 2.5-5 years). All patients were treated with a low cumulative dose of adriamycin (100 mg/m(2)) according to the St. Jude Total-XIIIA protocol. The ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening were normal in the patient and control groups, even though EF values were significantly lower in the patients (69.5 ± 2.3 vs. 72.7 ± 3 %, P < 0.01). Myocardial systole (S m), early diastole (E m) and late diastole (A m) velocities in all segments of the myocardium were significantly lower in the patient group (P < 0.01 for all segments). Cardiotoxicity was noted in all segments of the myocardium in the patient group, despite the fact that they were all treated with a low cumulative dose of adriamycin. Based on these findings, we think that there is no safe dose for anthracyclines and periodic echocardiographic evaluation of both the left and right ventricles must be performed in all patients treated with anthracyclines, even at low doses.

Even the life span has prolonged for the last 40 years, increase in frequently seen complications with increasing age negatively affect the life quality of thalassemia patients. In our study, complications encountered in 67 ß-thalassemia patients who were followedup at our hospital between 1 January 2004 and 31 May 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. Fifty-six patients were followed up with diagnosis of thalassemia major and 11 with thalassemia intermedia. Totally, 56.7% of patients were male and 43.3% were female. Ages varied between 2-20 years with the mean age of 10.3±4.8 years. Mean ferritin level was 2212±1370 ng/mL (41-6263 ng/mL) for 4.5 years. Complications were increased with increasing age. Complication rates were significantly higher among thalassemia major patients compared to thalassemia intermedia patients. There was no statistically significant relationship between complications and mean ferritin levels. The most common complications were endocrine complications (38.8%). Cardiac complications developed in 22.4% of the patients; gastroenterological complications in 19.4%; allergic complications in 9%; infectious complications in 1.5%; and thrombosis was detected in 1.5%. The endocrine complications were osteoporosis, growth retardation, developmental delay, short stature, hypothyroidism, delayed puberty, hypogonadism, and diabetes mellitus. The cardiac complications were left ventricular wall hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, systolic dysfunction, heart failure, pericardial effusion, dilated cardiomyopathy, left ventricular dilatation, left atrial dilatation, and fatal arrhythmias. Mortality occurred in one (1.5%) out of 67 ß-thalassemia patient due to dilated cardiomyopathy and fatal arrhythmia. Keywords: Thalassemia major, Thalassemia intermedia, Complications ÖZET Beta Talasemili Hastalarda S›k Görülen KomplikasyonlarTalasemi hastalar›n›n son 40 y›l içerisinde yaflam sürelerinde uzama olmakla birlikte yafl artt›kça görülen komplikasyonlar hastalar›n yaflam kalitelerini olumsuz yönde etkilemektedir. Çal›flmam›zda 1 Ocak 2004-31 May›s 2009 tarihleri aras›nda hastanemizde takipli 67 ß-talasemi hastas›nda görülen komplikasyonlar retrospektif olarak incelenmifltir. Çal›flmaya dahil edilen hastalar›n 56's› talasemi majör, 11'i talasemi intermedia tan›s›yla takip edilmektedir. Olgular›n %56.7'si erkek, %43.3'ü k›z idi. Yafllar› 2-20 y›l aras›nda olup, yafl ortalamalar› 10.3±4.8 y›l olarak hesapland›. Hastalar›n 4.5 y›l boyunca bak›lan ortalama ferritin düzeyleri 2212±1370 ng/mL (41-6263 ng/mL) olarak bulundu. Hastalar›n komplikasyonlar›nda yaflla birlikte art›fl oldu¤u saptand›. Komplikasyonlar talasemi majörlü hastalarda talasemi intermedial› hastalara göre istatistiksel olarak anlaml› derecede daha s›k görüldü. Ortalama ferritin de¤eri ile komplikasyon geliflme s›kl›¤› aras›nda istatistiksel olarak anlaml› bir iliflki bulunmad›. Hastalar›m›zda en s›k rastlanan komplikasyonlar %38.8 oran› ile endokrin komplikasyonlard›. Olgular›n %22.4'ünde kardiyak, %19.4'ünde gastroenterolojik, %9'unda all...

Endocrine or metabolic dysfunctions are more prevalent in children who are older than 10 years of age at HSCT. Children who underwent HSCT should be followed-up by a multidisciplinary team during puberty and adolescence.