SUMMARY: This study aimed to determine the frequency of Helicobacter pylori infections in children with phenylketonuria (PKU). Sixty-six children with PKU (35 boys, 31 girls; mean age, 8.2 ± 6.7 years) and 32 outpatient controls (15 boys, 17 girls; mean age, 9.6 ± 4.7 years) were studied. Socioeconomic factors did not differ between the two groups. The frequency of H. pylori infections was higher in patients with PKU (28.1z) than in healthy controls (9.4z). In particular, a higher frequency of infection was detected in patients with PKU with poor metabolic control (51.8z). The frequency of H. pylori infection in patients with PKU with good metabolic control was only 10.2z. There was no difference in the mean total WISC-R score between the poor and good metabolic control groups. A high frequency of H. pylori infection in children with PKU with poor metabolic control could be related to many factors. Advanced and standardized clinical studies on H. pylori infections in children with PKU are required.

Chemotherapy-induced acral erythema or palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia syndrome is a well-defined reaction to some of the chemotherapeutic agents such as methotrexate, cytarabine, doxorubicin, fluorouracil, and bleomycin. This reaction is characterized by symmetrical, well-demarcated, painful erythema of the palms and soles, which may progress to desquamation. The authors present a case of acral erythema in a young patient with acute monoblastic leukemia to emphasize this high-dose chemotherapy-induced side effect, which is rarely seen in children and is usually self-limited.

Acute sensorimotor polyneuropathy that resembles Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) and hepatitis is rarely accompanied with nephrotic syndrome. Its underlying immunological mechanisms are unclear. Involvement of immunological processes against common antigens in the glomerulus, peripheral nervous system and liver has been suggested. We describe a 5-year-old boy patient with acute sensorimotor polyneuropathy, myopathy and hepatitis that was accompanied with nephrotic syndrome. Renal biopsy showed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). He was in remission on nephrotic syndrome and polyneuropathy at his 6-month follow-up. Approximately 40 cases have been reported in the literature and to our knowledge he is the first patient with these four conditions. In conclusion, this case report suggests that the same underlying immunological mechanisms appear in relation with each other.