Head circumference in Iranian infants

Background: Head circumference (HC) measurement is an important parameter in the diagnosis of neurological and developmental disorders as well as dysmorphic syndromes. Recognition of different disorders requires an understanding of the normal variation of the HC size, especially during infancy which is a period of rapid brain growth. Regarding the differences in the international and interracial standard charts of anthropometric indices, local and generational diversities, changes in the ethnic mix of the population and socioeconomic factors, periodic re-evaluations need to be done on the size of HC. This study aimed to represent a local HC standard for an Iranian infant population in comparison with the charts of the American National Center of Health Statistics (NCHS) approved by the World Health Organization (WHO). Methods: About 1003 neonates were randomly enrolled in this cross-sectional study. They were ageing from 3 days to 24 months and were apparently in normal condition. The HC size of these infants was measured and recorded. Tables and graphs were diagramed by Excel Microsoft Office 2007 software and two-tailed Student's t-test was used for statistical analysis of data. Results: According to the findings of this study, the mean of the HC size in male infants was larger than the female ones. Based on a visual comparison, the curves followed a pattern similar to that of the NCHS's. Overall, our subjects in both genders were found to have a smaller HC size at birth compared to the NCHS charts. However, infants of other ages had a larger HC size compared to that of the NCHS's. Conclusion: With respect to the international and interracial differences in the HC size, it is recommended that local anthropometric indices be constructed and used clinically across the world. In addition, extensive and longitudinally designed studies are required in this regard

Chronic Kidney Disease in Iran: First Report of the National Registry in Children and Adolescences

Purpose: Knowing the epidemiological aspects of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in children is crucial for early recognition, identification of reversible causes, and prognosis. Here, we report the epidemiological characteristics of childhood CKD in Iran. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during 1991 � 2009. The data were collected using the information in the Iranian Pediatric Registry of Chronic Kidney Disease (IPRCKD) core dataset. Results: A total of 1247 children were registered. The mean age of the children at registration was 0.69 ± 4.72 years (range, 0.25 �18 years), 7.79 ± 3.18 years for hemodialysis (HD), 4.24 ± 1.86 years for continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and 3.4±1.95 years for the children who underwent the renal transplantation (RT) (P < .001). The mean year of follow-up was 7.19 ± 4.65 years. The mean annual incidence of CKD 2�5 stages was 3.34 per million age-related population (pmarp). The mean prevalence of CKD 2�5 stages was 21.95 (pmarp). The cumulative 1-, 5-, and 10-year patients� survival rates were 98.3, 90.7, and 84.8, respectively. The etiology of the CKD included the congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) (40.01), glomerulopathy (19.00), unknown cause (18.28), and cystic/hereditary/congenital disease (11.14). Conclusion: The incidence and prevalence rate of pediatric CKD in Iran is relatively lower than those reported in Europe and other similar studies. CAKUT was the main cause of the CKD. Appropriate management of CAKUT including early urological intervention is required to preserve the renal function. Herein, the long-term survival rate was higher among the children with CKD than the literature. © 2021. All Rights Reserved