Adult height achieved in children after kidney transplantation

Renal replacement therapy in infants with chronic renal failure in the first year of life

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Although results of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in small children have improved during recent years, data about RRT in neonates are scarce.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

In a retrospective study, we analyzed the outcome of infants who had chronic kidney disease and started RRT within their first year of life. Between 1997 and 2008, all 29 infants who were younger than 1 yr, had end-stage renal failure, and underwent RRT (dialysis or transplantation) at Hannover Medical School were analyzed for up to 12 yr.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven of 29 infants with chronic kidney disease received peritoneal dialysis, starting at a mean age of 112 d; two children received preemptive renal transplantation (RTx). During follow-up, 21 of 29 children survived with RTx. The 5-yr patient and graft survival rate after RTx was 95.5%. Six of 29 children died, one with a functioning graft and five while on peritoneal dialysis. The main causes of death were severe cardiovascular and cerebral comorbidities. The mean GFR at last follow-up of patients who underwent RTx (mean time after RTx 5.1 yr) was 63.2 ml/min per 1.73 m(2).

CONCLUSIONS

RRT in infants who are younger than 1 year offers excellent chances of survival and should be offered to all infants who do not have severe, life-limiting extrarenal comorbidity. Contrary to previous observations, the long-term outcome of infants may be comparable to that of older children who undergo RRT.

Growth and pubertal development in nephropathic cystinosis

In a retrospective investigation growth and pubertal development were evaluated in 30 patients with nephropathic cystinosis. Growth was investigated during the stage of chronic renal insufficiency as well as after successful kidney transplantation and growth rates were related to kidney function. Pubertal development was evaluated in 17 patients between 12 and 25 years of age. Prepubertal growth rates were stable in a range between -2 and -3 height velocity SDS as long as glomerular filtration rate was above 20ml/min per 1.73m2. A decrease in glomerular filtration rate below this threshold was followed by further decrease in height velocity. After kidney transplantation a significant catch-up growth was seen if immunosuppression was performed with cyclosporine A and low dose prednisolone. This did not occur if conventional therapy with azathioprine and high-dose prednisolone was used. Onset of puberty was delayed in all patients. Gonadotropin and oestradiol levels in female patients showed normal fluctuations according to ovulatory cycles. In male patients after puberty there was an increase in gonadotropin levels above the normal range for adult men while testosterone levels remained in the low normal range. These results indicate that adult men with nephropathic cystinosis may develop hypergonadotropic hypogonadism.