A POSSIBLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE LEVEL AND IgA NEPHROPATHY IN CHILDREN/COCUKLARDA SERUM HOMOSISTEIN DUZEYI ILE IgA NEFROPATISI ARASINDAKI OLASI ILISKI

Objective: The evidences from experimental and epidemiological studies suggests that elevated serum homocysteine levels may lead to renal injury and may be a significant risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to investigate a possible relationship between serum homocysteine level and crescent formation in children with IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis. Material and Methods: A total of 31 patients diagnosed as biopsy proven IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis and idiopathic crescentic glomerulonephritis in three Pediatric Nephrology centers within the last five years and 25 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Results: Homocysteine levels of patients were higher than the upper limit of normal value and also higher than the controls (p=0.0001). There was no significant difference between the patients with or without crescent formation regarding homocysteine levels (p>0.05). Presence or severity of proteinuria was not related to homocysteine levels (p>0.05). Conclusion: Serum homocysteine levels are elevated in patients with IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis. Our results suggest that elevated serum homocysteine levels may be related to segmental glomerulosclerosis in these patient groups. Keywords: IgA nephropathy, homocysteine, crescent Amac: Deneysel ve epidemiyolojik calismalar, yuksek serum homosistein duzeylerinin renal hasara yol acabilecegini ve kronik bobrek hastaligi gelisimi icin onemli bir risk faktoru olabilecegini gostermektedir. Calismamizin amaci IgA nefropatisi ve HenochSchonlein purpura nefriti olan hastalarda serum homosistein duzeyleri ile kresent olusumu arasinda bir iliski olup olmadigini belirlemektir. Gerec ve Yontemler: Uc pediatrik nefroloji merkezinde son bes yilda biyopsi ile IgA nefropatisi, Henoch-Schonlein purpura nefriti ve idiopatik kresentik glomerulonefrit tanisi alan 31 hasta ve 25 saglikli kontrol calismaya alindi. Bulgular: Hastalarin homosistein duzeyleri normal degerin ust sinirindan ve kontrollerden de daha yuksekti (p=0,0001). Biyopside kresent gorulen ve gorulmeyen hastalar arasinda da homosistein duzeyleri acisindan anlamli fark yoktu (p>0,05). Proteinuri varligi ve siddeti ile homosistein duzeyleri arasinda iliski saptanmadi (p>0,05). Sonuc: Serum homosistein duzeyleri IgA nefropatisi ve Henoch-Schonlein purpura nefriti olan hastalarda yuksek bulunmustur. Sonuclarimiz, bu hasta grubunda yuksek serum ho