Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Adolescent↗
Biomedical subjects
A Ravelli
Publications and source records attributed to A Ravelli.
[Pediatric digestive endoscopy: personal experience].
Fiberendoscopy has become a diagnostic and therapeutic procedure of the outmost importance also in pediatric gastroenterology. 100 gastrointestinal fiberoscopies have been carried out on 81 patients ranging in age from 1 month to 14 years during a three-year period (November 79 - October 82), using general anesthesia for 9 patients. The 70 upper GI endoscopies, almost always performed with the Olympus GIF P2 instrument, showed acute or chronic, limited or diffuse inflammatory changes in most cases; post-bulbar areas were successfully visualized in 46 patients. The 30 colonoscopies were carried out with the standard adult equipment in most part of cases; in 50% of cases the inspection was extended to the caecum. Inflammatory diseases have been frequently revealed, but more frequently no remarkable changes were found. Indications for "operative" endoscopy were dilatation of an esophageal achalasia and removal of four gastrointestinal bleeding polyps. All procedures gave satisfactory results, and no morbidity occurred to patients.
Adolescent↗
Frequency and clinical significance of anti-RNP antibodies in Italian SLE patients.
The frequency and clinical significance of anti-RNP antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are still a matter of debate. In this study we report our experience with a series of 123 unselected Italian patients (93 adults and 30 children) suffering from SLE according to the ARA criteria. Anti-RNP were detected by counterimmunoelectrophoresis in 25 patients (20%), 19 of whom did not show other antibodies to extractable antigens (isolated RNP). Our study shows a striking association between anti-RNP and arthritis as well as between anti-RNP and Raynaud's phenomenon. In addition, we found an association between anti-RNP and lack of renal involvement. This association was limited to those patients with isolated RNP and was independent of the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies. These data were confirmed by a 50 month follow-up study.
Adolescent↗
Circulating levels of interleukin 1 beta and of interleukin 1 receptor antagonist in systemic juvenile chronic arthritis.
OBJECTIVE: To measure circulating interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) levels in patients with systemic juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and to evaluate their correlation with disease activity. METHODS: IL-1 beta and IL-1Ra levels were measured by ELISA in 45 patients with JCA (20 systemic, 10 polyarticular and 15 pauciarticular) and in 15 healthy controls. RESULTS: Plasma IL-1 beta levels were undetectable in the majority of patients with systemic JCA, and detectable levels were not associated with different treatments or with parameters of disease severity. Serum IL-1Ra levels were markedly increased in patients with systemic JCA and significantly correlated with the persistence of systemic features, the extent and severity of joint involvement, and with C-reactive protein concentrations. Serum IL-1Ra levels were also significantly correlated with IL-6 levels. CONCLUSION: These results argue against a relevant role of IL-1 in systemic JCA. The increase in IL-1Ra levels does not appear to reflect an increase in IL-1 production, but may rather be induced by IL-6.
Adolescent↗
IgG autoantibodies to complement C1q in pediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE: Antibodies to C1q (aC1q) have been found in up to 50% of adult patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and have been associated with proliferative glomerulonephritis. We investigated the prevalence and clinical significance of aC1q in pediatric SLE. METHODS: Antibodies to C1q, measured by an ELISA method, were evaluated in 29 patients with childhood-onset SLE, 26 females and 3 males, aged 7.5 to 19.6 years. RESULTS: Seventeen (59%) of the 29 patients were initially positive for aC1q. No correlation was found between either the presence or titer of aC1q and any of the clinical manifestations, including nephritis. However, a significant correlation was observed between aC1q levels and anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies and C3 values. Serial determinations of aC1q in 23 patients showed a progressive decline in the titers with few significant fluctuations. Antibodies to C1q were not a reliable predictor of increased SLE activity, since they increased or became detectable in only 50% of the pre-flare sera. CONCLUSION: Antibodies to C1q were frequently positive in our patients with pediatric SLE and were correlated with laboratory variables of disease activity. However, unlike in adults with SLE, a high correlation between aC1q and glomerulonephritis was not found in these pediatric patients.
Adolescent↗
Oral versus intramuscular methotrexate in juvenile chronic arthritis. Italian Pediatric Rheumatology Study Group.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of methotrexate (MTX) after oral and intramuscular administration in children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA). METHODS: Pediatric rheumatology centers in Italy participated in this short-term, prospective, open trial. Each investigator was allowed to choose the oral or intramuscular route of administration according to his personal preference in everyday clinical practice. Patients enrolled by each center were given MTX through the same method of administration. All patients received 10 mg/m2 of MTX each week for six months. RESULTS: A total of 257 patients with JCA (127 treated orally and 130 intramuscularly) were enrolled in the trial by 11 Italian centers. The response rate after 6 months of MTX therapy was 58% in the oral and 61% in the intramuscular cohort. The frequency of adverse side effects did not differ significantly between the two treatment groups. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that MTX at the conventional dose regimen is equally effective and has a similar safety profile in children with JCA when administered orally or by intramuscular injections.
Administration, Oral↗