Browsing by Author "Conroy, Andrea"

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    Neurofilament Light Chain: A potential biomarker for cerebrovascular disease in children with sickle cell anemia
    (Wiley, 2023) Green, Nancy S.; Rosano, Caterina; Bangirana, Paul; Opoka, Robert; Munube, Deogratias; Kasirye, Philip; Kawooya, Michael; Lubowa, Samson K.; Mupere, Ezekiel; Conroy, Andrea; Minja, Frank J.; Boehme, Amelia K.; Kang, Min Suk; Honig, Lawrence S.; Idro, Richard; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Cerebrovascular injury frequently occurs in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Limited access to magnetic resonance imaging and angiography (MRI-MRA) in sub-Saharan Africa impedes detection of clinically unapparent cerebrovascular injury. Blood-based brain biomarkers of cerebral infarcts have been identified in non-SCA adults. Using plasma samples from a well-characterized cross-sectional sample of Ugandan children with SCA, we explored relationships between biomarker levels and MRI-detected cerebral infarcts and transcranial Doppler (TCD) arterial velocity. Testing was performed using a 4-plex panel of brain injury biomarkers, including neurofilament light chain (NfL), a central nervous system neuron-specific protein. Mean biomarker levels from the SCA group (n = 81) were similar to those from non-SCA sibling controls (n = 54). Within the SCA group, NfL levels were significantly higher in those with MRI-detected infarcts compared to no infarcts, and higher with elevated TCD velocity versus normal velocity. Elevated NfL remained strongly associated with MRI-detected infarcts after adjusting for sex and age. All non-SCA controls and SCA participants lacking MRI-detected infarcts had low NfL levels. These data suggest potential utility of plasma-based NfL levels to identify children with SCA cerebrovascular injury. Replication and prospective studies are needed to confirm these novel findings and the clinical utility of NfL versus MRI imaging.
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    P-152. Chitinase-3-like Protein 1 is Associated with Stunting and Neurodevelopmental Delay in Ugandan Children Who Are HIV Exposed But Uninfected
    (Oxford University Press, 2025-01-29) MacBain, Elspeth; Conroy, Andrea; Namasopo, Sophie; Opoka, Robert; Hawkes, Michael; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background: Children who are HIV exposed but uninfected (cHEU) are at risk for impaired linear growth and neurodevelopment, which evolving evidence suggests may be associated with elevated inflammatory biomarkers. Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is produced by activated neutrophils and has been linked to clinical manifestations of systemic inflammation in children living with HIV. We aimed to explore CHI3L1 as a potentially relevant marker for adverse growth and neurodevelopment outcomes experienced by cHEU. Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted at two pediatric HIV centres in Uganda (Jinja Regional Referral Hospital and Kambuga District Hospital). We enrolled children at birth, born to mothers living with HIV, diagnosed prior to the pregnancy or at the time of delivery. We excluded children who were subsequently found to be vertically infected (n=8), children who died before 18 month of age (n=3), as well as those lost-to-follow-up and those with missing CHI3L1 measurement. Neurodevelopmental ability (rank) was assigned based on the standardized score of Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool (MDAT) milestones achieved at 18 months of age. CHI3L1 levels were quantified by ELISA (R&D Duoset, Minneapolis, MN, USA). Results: We included 153 cHEU (53% female) born between March 2016 and June 2018. At 18 months of age, 42%, 0.7%, and 2.8%, were severely stunted, wasted, and underweight, respectively. Performance on the MDAT was similar to Malawian norms. The median CHI3L1 level was 30 µg/L (IQR 18-47). CHI3L1 levels were inversely correlated with weight-for-age (ρ= -0.22, p=0.0091) and height-for-age (ρ= -0.24, p=0.0039) z-scores, but not the weight-for-height or head circumference-for-age z-scores. CHI3L1 levels were higher in children with severe stunting (median 40 µg/L, IQR 26-86) than those without severe stunting (median 27 µg/L, IQR 16-39, p=0.0010). CHI3L1 was inversely correlated with the standardized MDAT scores (ρ= -0.29, 0.00023). Lower scores in the language and gross motor domains were associated with higher CHI3L1 whereas scores in the fine motor and social domains were not associated with CHI3L1. Conclusion: CHI3L1 was associated with severe stunting and neurodevelopmental delay in our cHEU cohort in Uganda.
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    Pediatric AKI in the real world: changing outcomes through education and advocacy-a report from the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) consensus conference
    (Springer, 2024) Mottes, Theresa; Menon, Shina; Conroy, Andrea; Jetton, Jennifer; Dolan, Kristin; Arikan, Ayse Akcan; Basu, Rajit K.; Goldstein, Stuart L.; Symons, Jordan M.; Alobaid, Rashid; Askenazi, David J.; Bagshaw, Sean M.; Barhight, Matthew; Barreto, Erin; Bayrakci, Benan; Bignall, O. N., II; Bjornstad, Erica; Brophy, Patrick; Charlton, Jennifer; Chanchlani, Rahul; Conroy, Andrea L.; Deep, Akash; Devarajan, Prasad; Fuhrman, Dana; Gist, Katja M.; Gorga, Stephen M.; Greenberg, Jason H.; Hasson, Denise; Heydari, Emma; Iyengar, Arpana; Krawczeski, Catherine; Meigs, Leslie; Morgan, Catherine; Morgan, Jolyn; Neumayr, Tara; Ricci, Zaccaria; Selewski, David T.; Soranno, Danielle; Stanski, Natalja; Starr, Michelle; Sutherland, Scott M.; Symons, Jordan; Tavares, Marcelo; Vega, Molly; Zappitelli, Michael; Ronco, Claudio; Mehta, Ravindra L.; Kellum, John; Ostermann, Marlies; ADQI 26 workgroup; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is independently associated with increased morbidity and mortality across the life course, yet care for AKI remains mostly supportive. Raising awareness of this life-threatening clinical syndrome through education and advocacy efforts is the key to improving patient outcomes. Here, we describe the unique roles education and advocacy play in the care of children with AKI, discuss the importance of customizing educational outreach efforts to individual groups and contexts, and highlight the opportunities created through innovations and partnerships to optimize lifelong health outcomes. Methods: During the 26th Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) consensus conference, a multidisciplinary group of experts discussed the evidence and used a modified Delphi process to achieve consensus on recommendations on AKI research, education, practice, and advocacy in children. Results: The consensus statements developed in response to three critical questions about the role of education and advocacy in pediatric AKI care are presented here along with a summary of available evidence and recommendations for both clinical care and research. Conclusions: These consensus statements emphasize that high-quality care for patients with AKI begins in the community with education and awareness campaigns to identify those at risk for AKI. Education is the key across all healthcare and non-healthcare settings to enhance early diagnosis and develop mitigation strategies, thereby improving outcomes for children with AKI. Strong advocacy efforts are essential for implementing these programs and building critical collaborations across all stakeholders and settings.