Author/Authors :
Esteghamati, Maryam Department of Pediatric Nephrology - Clinical Research Development Center of Children’s Hospital - Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran , Ghasemi, Kambiz Department of Pediatric Nephrology - Clinical Research Development Center of Children’s Hospital - Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran , Javaheri, Zohreh Student Research Committee - Faculty of Medicine - Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran , Zoghi, Ghazal Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center - Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
Abstract :
Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are very common in children. Several biomarkers have been used for the diagnosis of UTI and prediction of renal parenchymal involvement.
Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate plasma D-dimer as a diagnostic marker of UTI in children.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 41 children aged 1 month to 14 years with their first febrile UTI confirmed by positive
urine culture referred to Bandar Abbas Children’s Hospital, Iran, from October 1, 2017, to April 1, 2018. Participants’ demographic
features, including age and gender were recorded. White blood cell (WBC) count, percentage of neutrophils, erythrocyte sedimentation
rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum D-dimer were measured in random blood samples for all the patients.
Results: Out of 41 children (mean age: 5.504.01 years) evaluated in this study, 6 (14.6%) were male, and 35 (85.4%) were female. The
mean plasma D-dimer level was 1496.492787.55 g/L. A significant positive correlation was found between D-dimer with ESR (r =
0.647, P = 0.026) and CRP (r = 0.525, P = 0.001). Plasma D-dimer was not associated with age; however, age was inversely correlated
with WBC count (r = -0.327, P = 0.037). No significant relationship was found between plasma D-dimer, ESR, CRP, WBC count, and
neutrophil percentage with gender (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: According to our results, in children aged 1monthto 14 years with culture-confirmed UTI, plasma D-dimer is positively
correlated with ESR and CRP. Nevertheless, D-dimer appears not to be influenced by age or gender. Further studies are required to confirm the utility of D-dimer as a diagnostic marker of UTI in children.
