0000000000471257

AUTHOR

Verghi F

Serum pancreatic enzymes in human immunodeficiency virus-infected children - A collaborative study of the Italian Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology

Numerous studies have shown pancreatic disease in adult human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, but there are very few reports on pediatric patients. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of increased serum pancreatic enzyme levels and their relationship to clinical manifestations of acute pancreatitis in HIV-infected children.Forty-seven consecutive, symptomatic HIV-infected children (24 male; median age, 7.3 years; range, 1-17 years) and 45 sex- and age-matched controls without gastroenterologic disease were enrolled. In all subjects serum total amylase, pancreatic amylase, and lipase were assayed with commercial kits. The following were recorded: disease progression (CDC …

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Pancreatic dysfunction and its association with fat malabsorption in HIV infected children

Background—Nutrient malabsorption frequently occurs in HIV infected children, but very few studies have investigated exocrine pancreatic digestive capacity in these cases.Aims—To investigate pancreatic function in HIV infected children and to determine whether faecal fat loss, a prominent feature of intestinal dysfunction, is associated with pancreatic dysfunction.Patients—Forty seven children with HIV infection without apparent pancreatic disease and 45 sex and age matched healthy controls.Methods—Pancreatic function was evaluated by measuring elastase 1 concentration and chymotrypsin activity in stools by ELISA and colorimetric methods, respectively. Intestinal function was evaluated by m…

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HDL subfractions distribution in renal transplant recipients: Lack of evidence of a reduction of HDL2 particles

Since the high rate of cardiovascular disease in renal transplant recipients, alterations of lipoprotein profile in such patients were extensively evaluated, but the HDL subclass profile was not completely clarified. Renal transplant recipients usually show normal to high plasma levels of HDL cholesterol, even if some investigations suggested a persistence of low HDL2 levels: this was not useful in terms of cardiovascular protection. We designed this study in order to evaluate HDL subfractions distribution in renal transplant recipients. We studied 55 renal transplant recipients, treated with prednisone, azathioprine and/or cyclosporine, and 34 healthy normolipidemics as controls. In all su…

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