Quantitative PCR for BKV is a sensitive and reliable method for following the course of the infection in renal transplant patients. In addition, cidofovir therapy may be useful in the treatment of some of these patients, and its role needs to be investigated further.

These data indicate that the abnormality of IgA1 O-glycosylation seen in IgA nephropathy is also found in Henoch-Schönlein purpura, but only in those subjects with renal involvement, while IgA1 O-glycosylation is normal in patients with other forms of renal disease. These findings lend strong support to a role for altered IgA1 O-glycosylation in the pathogenesis of IgA-associated glomerular disease.

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Aims: To gather information on children with minor illness or injury presenting to a paediatric accident and emergency (A&E) department and the decision making process leading to their attendance. Methods: Prospective questionnaire based survey of 465 children selected by systematic sampling from A&E attenders allocated to the lowest triage category. Results: The study population was statistically representative of the total population of A&E attenders. The lower deprivation categories were over represented. Educational attainment, childcare experience, and parental coping skills were important in relation to A&E attendance. More children attended with injury as opposed to illness. There were no significant demographic differences between those children who presented directly to A&E and those who made prior contact with a GP. Just under half the study population had made contact with a general practitioner (GP) before attending A&E. The majority of those children were directly referred to A&E at that point. GPs referred equivalent numbers of children with illness and injury. Conclusions: Parents and GPs view paediatric A&E departments as an appropriate place to seek treatment for children with minor illness or injury.

Sixteen children (11 male, 5 female) who developed renal venous thrombosis in the neonatal period or early infancy have been followed for periods varying from 29 months to 16 years (median 12 years) after initial diagnosis. Twelve patients presented with a hyperosmolar state, and in 4 the illness was preceded by severe birth asphyxia. The diagnosis was based on the findings of clinical and/or radiological renal enlargement (15 cases), haematuria (16 cases) and elevation in plasma urea (16 cases). Thrombocytopenia (13 cases), red cell fragmentation (13 cases) and oliguria (13 cases) were frequent associated findings. All 16 patients survived the acute illness, 1 patient died 3 years later from an unrelated event. On follow-up evaluation, 11 patients have normal renal function (glomerular filtration rate greater than 80 ml/min per 1.73 m2), 5 developed hypertension, 2 of whom responded to unilateral nephrectomy. Urinary concentrating capacity was subnormal (less than 800 mosmol/kg) in 7 of the 15 cases studied. Follow-up renal imaging studies were undertaken in 14 patients, and the imaging procedure was normal in only 2 of these. Of the remainder, 8 showed unilateral abnormality and 4 bilateral abnormality. Intellectual development was normal in 12 patients, mildly impaired in 1, and severely impaired in 3.