Splenic hypofunction in the nephrotic syndrome of childhood

Journal Article · Thu May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Am. J. Kidney Dis.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-6386(86)80088-9· OSTI ID:5652333

McVicar, M I; Chandra, M; Margouleff, D; Zanzi, I

The reticuloendothelial system, including the spleen, subserves important immunologic functions. Loss of splenic function results in an increased incidence of severe bacterial infections and is accompanied by thrombocytosis. Several nephrotic children were noted to have remarkably high platelet counts and predisposition to bacterial infection with encapsulated organisms. We, therefore, investigated the splenic function of nine children with primary nephrotic syndrome and measured the phagocytic function of the spleen by sequestration of Technetium-99-labelled heat-treated autologous RBC, administered intravenously. Four children had decreased splenic function. Repeat studies performed in two of these children after remission of the nephrotic syndrome gave normal results. There were six episodes of bacterial infection (3 peritonitis, 1 septic arthritis, 1 cellulitis, and 1 Escherichia coli urinary tract infection) among the four patients with decreased splenic function. There were no episodes of bacterial infection among the five nephrotic children with normal splenic function. Nephrotic patients with decreased splenic function had significantly increased platelet counts (921,000 +/- 196,000; mean +/- SEM) compared to those with normal function (435,000 +/- 46,000; P less than 0.001). Our findings suggest the possibility that some nephrotic children may have decreased splenic function in association with increased susceptibility to bacterial infections.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ. Medical College, Manhasset, NY
• OSTI ID: 5652333
• Journal Information: Am. J. Kidney Dis.; (United States), Vol. 5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
NEPHRITIS
PATHOGENESIS
SPLEEN
PHAGOCYTOSIS
BLOOD COUNT
BLOOD PLATELETS
CHILDREN
ERYTHROCYTES
ESCHERICHIA COLI
PATIENTS
RETICULOENDOTHELIAL SYSTEM
TECHNETIUM 99
TRACER TECHNIQUES
AGE GROUPS
ANIMAL TISSUES
BACTERIA
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
DISEASES
HOURS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOMERIC TRANSITION ISOTOPES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
ISOTOPES
MATERIALS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
RADIOISOTOPES
TECHNETIUM ISOTOPES
TISSUES
UROGENITAL SYSTEM DISEASES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
550901* - Pathology- Tracer Techniques