Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Research Articles

#331 Vascular and lipid profile interplays in pediatric CKD patients

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by irreversible kidney damage and/or progressive loss of function. Children with CKD often have additional CVD risk factors, including hypertension and dyslipidemia. They may have myocardial abnormalities and early atherosclerosis evidence, such as coronary artery calcification, abnormal flow-mediated dilation, increased carotid intima-medial thickness (CIMT), and increased aortic stiffness. These abnormalities seem to be, in part, related to the degree of uremia. This study aimed at assessing the interrelationship between vascular status and lipid profile abnormalities in different stages of CKD in pediatric patients. Method This cross-sectional study was done on 99 patients: 33 with stage 5 CKD on regular hemodialysis & 33 pre-dialysis CKD stage 2-4 on conservative management & 33 age and sex matched controls. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure readings, and a lipid profile were done to all groups. Intima media thickness was measured using B-mode ultrasound doppler in both the common and internal carotid arteries (CCA, ICA). Which is a non-invasive way to measure the artery walls and track the early impacts of the atherosclerotic process. Results There was an obvious increase in blood pressure the percentiles in all CKD patients in relation to controls. The waist-to-hip ratio in CKD 2-4 patients was significantly higher than in CKD 5 patients, and both were higher than the controls, with means (±SD) of 1.01 (0.19), 0.88 (0.10), and 0.86 (0.05), respectively. Except for high-density lipoproteins (HDL), the lipid profile, including triglycerides, cholesterol, and low-density lipoproteins (LDL), were all significantly increased when comparing CKD 2-4 to CKD 5, and both higher than the controls: 170.45 (42.04), 166.00 (45.57), and 100.88 (26.19) for triglycerides (p 0.001). The right and left ICA and CCA showed a significant increase in the intimal thickness being higher in the CKD 5 group than the CKD 2-4 and both higher than the controls. On studying the correlation between the duration of CKD in years and other variables, we found a positive correlation with triglycerides (r = 0.409 & p = 0.001) and right CCA IMT (r = 0.271 & p = 0.028); however, the HDL (r = −0.326 & p = 0.007) revealed a negative correlation in all CKD patients. The HDL level showed an inverse correlation with right CCA and ICA. Conclusion Patients with CKD have an increased waist-to-hip ratio, dyslipidemia, and increased carotid IMT, which are factors that lead to the early development of atherosclerosis. Special care should be directed to CKD patients, especially those in stages 2-4, to control their lipid profile and postpone the development of atherosclerosis as much as possible.

#332 Dermatological manifestations in pediatric CKD patients

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease (CKD), regardless of its cause, may be accompanied by various skin lesions. The most common symptom in children suffering from CKD is pruritus however other signs that may be seen are xerosis, skin hyperpigmentation, ecchymoses, acquired perforating dermatoses, nail lesions, calcinosis cutis, as well as eczematous lesions at the site of an arteriovenous fistula and skin infections. Data on different skin lesions in children with CKD is very limited; only few reports have been published discussing xerosis in pediatric patients and most studies were conducted on a small number of patients who needed renal replacement therapy . This study aimed primarily to screen the different dermatological manifestations in pediatric patients with CKD, in addition to studying the relationship of dermatological manifestations with the CKD stage, types of dialysis, various clinical and metabolic parameters. Method This was a cross sectional study, that was conducted at Pediatric Dialysis and Nephrology unit, Children's Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt, during the period from February 2023 to August 2023, where 70 patients were enrolled in our study being divided into two groups: group 1 including CKD patients stages (2-4) and group 2 including CKD patients with stage 5 on regular hemodialysis. Detailed dermatological & nail examination were conducted. Xerosis severity was assessed using a four-point xerosis assessment scale (0, normal skin, without any xerosis; 1, mild xerosis; 2, moderately dry skin with minimal flaking; 3, severe xerosis, heavy scaling visible), whereas pruritus was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) on a scale of 1 (no itch) to 10 (worst possible itch). Laboratory data were withdrawn at the time of examination to correlate with different dermatological manifestation. Results In our study, xerosis was the most frequent dermatological manifestation (78.6%) following it pruritus (62.9%) then pallor (35.7%), hyperpigmentation (20%), hypertrichosis (10 %), nail and hair abnormalities (8.5%) & post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (4.3%). The prevalence of xerosis was not affected by clinico-demographic data, CKD duration & stage, type and duration of dialysis, the only significant relation was between efficacy of dialysis (Kt/V) and incidence of xerosis, where the higher dialysis efficacy rates were associated with low incidence rates of xerosis, in which effective hemodialysis contributes to better removal of uremic toxins, & hence decrease the xerosis. Leukocytosis was noticed in xerotic & pruritic patients, where xerosis & impaired skin barrier in children with CKD pose a risk for different cutaneous infections & inflammation, and hence pruritis. Conclusion Xerosis and pruritis are not uncommon dermatological manifestations among pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease, meanwhile the age of the patients and the underlying CKD etiology had no direct effect on skin changes. The most determinant factory affecting the xerosis was the hemodialysis efficacy, where higher efficacy was associated with less xerosis, meanwhile leukocytosis was associated with higher xerosis and pruritis. Further studies are needed to detect various skin manifestations in CKD patients with different CKD stages and correlate it with the used dialysis modalities.

#336 Early detection of vascular access complication in pediatric CKD hemodialysis patients

Abstract Background and Aims Vascular access (VA) dysfunction is a major clinical complication in the hemodialysis (HD) population and has a direct effect on dialysis outcome. Where in patients undergoing HD, neointimal hyperplasia results in vascular stenosis and subsequent thrombosis, which lead to vascular access failure. Interleukin-10 (IL-10), hs CRP, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF–α) are inflammatory markers which are proved to be involved in the process neointimal hyperplasia & subsequent complications. We aimed to evaluate the value of these inflammatory markers in early detection of arterio-venous fistula (AVF) failure, in pediatric patients on regular HD, together with the clinical & radiological diagnoses, for proper intervention for correcting AVF failure according to guidelines. Method It was an prospective cohort study, where we included 59 pediatric chronic kidney disease patients’ stage 5, on regular HD (CKD5d), who were following up regularly with us for 1 year. Patients with nonfunctioning AVFs due to complications as thrombus occluding fistula, infections, or large aneurysm, were excluded from the beginning of the study. Monitoring of VA by pre-cannulation physical examination was performed to detect the physical signs of dysfunction, at least once per month according to KDOQI guidelines. Venous pressure (VP) and trans-membrane pressure (TMP) were recorded at each HD session, to detect any abnormalities and to record the pressure changes with the appearance of any AVF complications. Doppler ultrasound (DUS) was performed routinely every 3 months for all HD patients, & at the time of development AVF complications. Blood samples for measuring IL10, TNF, hs CRP were collected from the patients every 2 weeks for 12 months, prior to HD sessions, where we included the most recent samples prior to, and at the time of development complications, which were clinically and radiologically confirmed. Results The mean (±SD) age of our patients was 13.97 (±2.65) years, where we had 39 (56.5%) males, and 30 (43.5%) females, with a median (IQR) HD duration of 4.0 (5.0) years. On assessing the AVF complications, 33 patients (55.9%) had experienced complications, where thrombosis was the most common reported one (17 patients, 28.8%), followed by aneurysm formation in 14 patients (23.7%), while 6 patients (10%) had stenosed AVF, early VA failure in 2 patients (3.4%),1 patient (1.7%) had pseudoaneurysm, and another patient (1.7%) had perivascular hematoma. Mean serum levels of Hs-CRP, TNF-α, IL-10 were elevated at timing of early development of complication, in comparison to their baseline levels, meanwhile serum IL10, and TNF alpha were significantly higher among patients who developed AVF stenosis. The baseline hs-CRP had related positively with AVF diameter at the time of the development of the complications. Conclusion The inflammatory markers have no clinically applied role in early detection of AVF abnormalities, therefore, physical examination and DUS are deemed sufficient.

Surgical treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism in children with chronic kidney disease. Experience in 19 patients.

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) is an important contributor to bone disease and cardiovascular calcifications in children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). When conservative measures are ineffective, parathyroidectomy is indicated. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of subtotal parathyroidectomy (sPTX) in pediatric and adolescent patients, and to provide a rationale for considering this aggressive treatment in CKD patients with uncontrolled sHPT. We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 19 pediatric CKD patients on dialysis with refractory sHPT who underwent sPTX at our institution between 2010 and 2020. All patients had clinical, radiological, and biochemical signs of renal osteodystrophy. One year after sPTX, parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels (median and interquartile range (IQR)) dropped from 2073 (1339-2484) to 164 (93-252) pg/mL (p=0.0001), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels from 1166 (764-2373) to 410 (126-421) IU/L (p=0.002), and the mean (±SDS) calcium-phosphate (Ca*P) product from 51±11 to 41±13mg2/dL2 (p=0.07). Postoperatively, all patients presented with severe hungry bone syndrome (HBS) and required intravenous and oral calcium and calcitriol supplementation. None of them had other postoperative complication. Histological findings had a good correlation with preoperative parathyroid ultrasound imaging (n: 15) in 100 % and with technetium-99m (99mTc) sestamibi scintigraphy (n: 15) in 86.6 %. Clinical and radiological signs of bone disease improved in all patients. Pediatric sPTX is effective and safe to control sHPT and calcium-phosphate metabolism in children with CKD on dialysis and may mitigate irreversible bone deformities and progression of cardiovascular disease.

Pediatric chronic kidney disease mortality in Brazil-A time trend analysis.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined based on structural or functional abnormalities of the kidneys, or a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) below the threshold of 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 for more than 3 months. It is an important noncommunicable disease with a rising worldwide, becoming a global public health problem. There are few studies about this problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC), including Brazil, an upper-middle-income country. The objective of the study was to determine the cause-specific mortality rates for pediatric CKD patients (CKDMR) from 0 to 19 years old, based on the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) and the Global Burden of Diseases Injuries and Risk Factors Study's (GBD) list. We calculated the impact of the annual human development indexes (HDI) in CKDMR in Brazil and its regions at two different times and compared it with the literature results. We obtained data from the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS) from 1996 to 2017. The Joinpoint regression analyses estimated the average annual percentage changes (AAPCs). The correlation between the HDI values and the number of deaths from each age group in Brazil and its different regions were assessed using the time series autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models. There were 8838 deaths in a pediatric and adolescent population of about 1.485 x 109 person-years observed in Brazil from 1996 to 2017. Our results demonstrated a significant increase in the AAPC in Brazil's less than 1-year-old age group and a decrease in children from 5 to 19 years old. We observed a positive correlation between CKDMR and HDI among children under 1 year of age. Conversely, there is a negative association in the age groups ranging from 5 to 19 years, indicating an inverse relationship between CKDMR and HDI.

COVID-19 in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease; Does it Differ Much?

COVID-19 is known to have a mild course in children, however more data on pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) is needed. We aimed to assess the incidence and severity of COVID-19 in pediatric CKD patients. A questionnaire including demographics, COVID-19 history, symptoms, and vaccination status was applied to patients with CKD. We also retrospectively reviewed the presentation and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in this patient group from March 2020 to December 2021. 220 patients were included, 48 were found to have experienced COVID-19. There was no significant difference regarding age, gender, underlying kidney disease, CKD stage, dialysis status, type or number of immunosuppressive medications, and glomerular filtration rate between patients with and without COVID-19. Most were infected by a household member (43.8%) and during outpatient or inpatient care (18.8%). Four (8.3%) were asymptomatic, and 43 (89.6%) had mild infection. Severe COVID-19 was observed in only one patient. Eleven (22.9%) patients with COVID-19 were previously vaccinated. Acute kidney injury was detected in 4 (8.3%); as stage 1 in all. Median follow-up after COVID-19 was 4.6 months. All patients fully recovered, and no renal disease flare or death was observed. Although the vaccination rate was low in our cohort, the majority of the children with COVID-19 showed a mild course. Along with the vaccination, general precautions seemed to be successful for this population.

Speckle-Tracking: Incremental Role in Diastolic Assessment of Pediatric Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of mortality in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Echocardiographic assessment of diastolic function in CKD has been limited to spectral and tissue Doppler imaging, known to be less reliable techniques in pediatrics. Two-dimensional Speckle tracking echocardiography (2DST) derived left atrial (LA) strain has recently been confirmed as a robust measure of diastolic function. To investigate LA strain role in diastolic assessment of children at different stages of CKD. From February 2019 to July 2022, 55 CKD patients without cardiovascular symptoms and 55 controls were evaluated by standard and 2DST echocardiograms. The level of significance was set at 5% (p<0.05). Patients and controls had similar age [9.78 (0.89 - 17.54) vs. 10.72 (1.03 -18,44) years; p = 0.41] and gender (36M:19F vs. 34M:21F; p=0.84). There were 25 non-dialysis patients and 30 dialysis patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction was ≥ 55% in all of them. Comparing CKD and controls, LA reservoir strain was lower (48.22±10.62% vs. 58.52±10.70%) and LA stiffness index was higher [0.14 (0.08-0.48)%-1 vs. 0.11 (0.06-0.23) %-1]; p<0.0001. LV hypertrophy was associated with lower LA reservoir strain (42.05±8.74% vs. 52.99±9.52%), higher LA stiffness [0.23(0.11 - 0.48)%-1 vs. 0.13 (0.08-0.23) %-1 and filling indexes (2.39±0.63 cm/s x %-1 vs. 1.74±0.47 cm/s x %-1; p<0.0001. Uncontrolled hypertension was associated with lower LA reservoir strain (41.9±10.6% vs. 50.6±9.7; p=0.005). LA strain proved to be a feasible tool in the assessment of pediatric CKD patients and was associated with known cardiovascular risk factors.

Pediatric chronic kidney disease: blood cell count indexes as inflammation markers.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is defined as a progressive decline of kidney functions. In childhood, the main triggering factors are congenital anomalies of the kidneys and urinary tract (CAKUT) and glomerulopathies. Inflammatory responses present challenges for diagnosis and staging, which justifies studies on biomarkers/indexes. To define blood cell count indexes and verify their association with pediatric CKD etiology and staging. The included indexes were: Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Derived Neutrophil-Lymphocyte Ratio (dNLR), Lymphocyte-Monocyte Ratio (LMR), Systemic Inflammation Response Index (SIRI), Aggregate Index of Systemic Inflammation (AISI), and Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index (SII). We determined the indexes in 52 pediatric CKD patients and 33 healthy controls by mathematical calculation. CKD patients were separated in five groups based on the etiology and staging: Group IA: glomerulopathies at stage 1 or 2; IB: glomerulopathies at stage 3 or 4; IIA: CAKUT at stage 1 or 2; IIB: CAKUT at stage 3 or 4; and III: stages 3 or 4 of other etiologies. In addition, we combined all patients with CKD in one group (IV). Group V was a healthy control group. Lower values of LMR were observed for groups IB and IIB compared to group V (p = 0.047, p = 0.031, respectively). Increased values of SIRI were found for group III versus group V (p = 0.030). There was no difference for other indexes when the groups were compared two by two. The LMR and SIRI indexes showed promising results in the evaluation of inflammation, as they correlated with CKD etiologies and specially staging in these patients.

Longitudinal changes of health-related quality of life in childhood chronic kidney disease.

Few longitudinal studies have evaluated the impact of chronic kidney disease (CKD) duration on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The study's aim was to determine how HRQOL changes over time in childhood CKD. Study participants were children in the chronic kidney disease in children (CKiD) cohort who completed the pediatric quality of life inventory (PedsQL) on three or more occasions over the course of two or more years. Generalized gamma (GG) mixed-effects models were applied to assess the effect of CKD duration on HRQOL while controlling for selected covariates. A total of 692 children (median age = 11.2) with a median of 8.3years duration of CKD were evaluated. All subjects had a GFR greater than 15ml/min/1.73 m2. GG models with child self-report PedsQL data indicated that longer CKD duration was associated with improved total HRQOL and the 4 domains of HRQOL. GG models with parent-proxy PedsQL data indicated that longer duration was associated with better emotional but worse school HRQOL. Increasing trajectories of child self-report HRQOL were observed in the majority of subjects, while parents less frequently reported increasing trajectories of HRQOL. There was no significant relationship between total HRQOL and time-varying GFR. Longer duration of the disease is associated with improved HRQOL on child self-report scales; however, parent-proxy results were less likely to demonstrate any significant change over time. This divergence could be due to greater optimism and accommodation of CKD in children. Clinicians can use these data to better understand the needs of pediatric CKD patients. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

#3932 INSULIN RESISTANCE IN PEDIATRIC CKD PATIENTS

Abstract Background and Aims Pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with disturbance of glucose metabolism &amp; insulin receptor sensitivity leading to impaired glucose tolerance &amp; insulin resistance (IR), which are potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hyperinsulinemia and IR are not extensively investigated in children with CKD, especially in different stages of CKD. The aim of our study was to detect hyperinsulinemia &amp; IR in pediatric CKD patients. Method A total of 87 children and adolescents; 58 with chronic kidney disease (CKD); (29 CKD stage 2-4, pre-dialysis group &amp; 29 CKD stage 5 on regular hemodialysis, CKD5d group) &amp; 29 age &amp; gender matched controls were enrolled in the current cross-sectional study. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) using fasting insulin &amp; glucose, where IR was considered if HOMA-IR was 4.39. Results Fasting insulin &amp; glucose hadn't significantly changed between CKD patients &amp; controls (p = 0.7, 0.3 respectively), while IR represented by HOMA-IR was found in a total of 11 (12.6%) CKD patients (6, 6.89% CKD5d &amp; 5, 5.74% CKD 2-4) with no significant difference between pre-dialysis &amp; dialysis groups (p&amp;gt;0.05), while it was significant with controls (p = 0.039), meanwhile, the total means of HOMA-IR between were no statistically significant between all CKD patients &amp; (p = 0.64). HOMA-IR correlated positively to dialysis durations (p = &amp;lt;0.001, &amp;lt;0.001 respectively), but hadn't changed with BMI. Conclusion Pre-dialysis &amp; dialysis CKD pediatric patients are at a high risk of IR &amp; hence CVD. CKD &amp; dialysis durations are independent risk factors for IR.

#3935 AUDIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN PEDIATRIC CKD PATIENTS

Abstract Background and Aims Many similarities exist between the nephron &amp; ear infrastructures, making them vulnerable to same risk factors. Idiopathic sensory neural hearing loss is frequent in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our aims were to determine the prevalence, type, &amp; degree of hearing impairment in pediatric CKD patients. Method This cross-sectional study was carried out at pediatric dialysis &amp; nephrology unit at Children's hospital &amp; Audiology unit, Faculty of Medicine Ain Shams University, included 45 CKD patients’ stage 2-4, 45 CKD patients’ stage 5 on hemodialysis, &amp; 90 children as controls. Detailed history, physical, otological examinations &amp; audiological assessment by standard pure tone audiometry, speech audiometry &amp; tympanometry, IQ test, in addition to some laboratory investigations were done for all our studied patients. Results The mean IQ was significantly lower in CKD patients than the controls, however, it was significantly higher in dialysis than non-dialysis groups (p = 0.05). Pure tone audiometry showed 16.6% of out CKD patients had hearing loss, which was mainly sensory neural (SNHL); (53.3%), that was significantly higher compared to the control group (p &amp;lt; 0.001). A mild degree of high-frequency hearing loss was frequently reported. These findings weren't significantly different between dialysis &amp; non-dialysis patients, but were significant compared to control group (P&amp;lt;0.001). Regarding speech discrimination scores, controls had a higher significant change compared to CKD patients. Regarding Tympanometry test results, most of CKD patients &amp; the controls had normal middle ear pressure. The most determining factor affecting the hearing loss in our patients was the IQ. Conclusion High-frequency SNHL is not uncommon in CKD pediatric patients, in addition to low IQ. It's recommended to do a routine audiological evaluation &amp; follow up for early diagnosis &amp; intervention.

Transition of Care in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease, Dialysis, and Transplantation.

Improvement in management of pediatric renal disorders has led to patient survival rates of 85-90%, increasing the number of adolescent and young adult (AYA) patients with childhood onset chronic kidney disease (CKD) transitioning to adult care settings. Pediatric CKD patients differ from adults with CKD in view of early onset of disease (sometimes with fetal onset), different disease spectrum, the potential effect of CKD on neurodevelopment, and substantial involvement of parents in medical decision making. In addition to the usual challenges of emerging adulthood (graduation from school to work, independent living, peak in impulsivity and risk-taking behaviors), young adults with pediatric CKD need to learn to manage a serious medical condition independently. In kidney transplant patients, regardless of the age at transplantation, graft failure rates are higher during adolescence and young adulthood than at any other age. All pediatric CKD patients must move from a pediatric to adult-focused settings and this transition is a longitudinal process requiring collaboration and interactions of AYA patients, their families, providers, health care environment and agencies. Consensus guidelines have provided recommendations to pediatric and adult renal teams to enable successful transition. Suboptimal transition is a risk factor for poor adherence to treatment and unfavorable health outcomes. The authors discuss the process of transition as it applies to pediatric CKD patients and review challenges faced by patients/families, pediatric and adult nephrology teams. They provide some suggestions and available tools to optimize the transition of pediatric CKD patients to adult-oriented care.

Mineral bone disorder in children with chronic kidney disease: Data from the KNOW-Ped CKD (Korean cohort study for outcome in patients with pediatric chronic kidney disease) study.

Children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk of mineral bone disorder (MBD), which leads to fractures, growth retardation, and cardiovascular disease. We aimed to comprehensively understand the relationship between renal function and factors related to MBD and evaluate the prevalence and distribution characteristics of MBD, specifically among Korean patients from the KNOW-PedCKD cohort. From the baseline data of the KNOW-PedCKD cohort, we examined the prevalence and distribution of MBD in 431 Korean pediatric CKD patients, including the level of corrected total calcium, serum phosphate, serum alkaline phosphatase, serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF-23), serum vitamin D, fractional excretion of phosphate (FEP), and bone densitometry Z-scores. The median serum calcium level remained relatively normal regardless of the CKD stage. The levels of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D, urine calcium-to-creatinine ratio, and bone densitometry Z-score significantly decreased with advancing CKD stage, while those of serum phosphate, FGF-23, and FEP significantly increased with CKD stage. The prevalence of hyperphosphatemia (17.4%, 23.7%, and 41.2% from CKD stages 3b, 4, and 5, respectively) and hyperparathyroidism (37.3%, 57.4%, 55.3%, and 52.9% from CKD stages 3a, 3b, 4, and 5, respectively) significantly increased with the CKD stage. Prescriptions of medications, such as calcium supplements (39.1%, 42.1%, 82.4%), phosphate binders (39.1%, 43.4%, 82.4%), and active vitamin D (21.7%, 44.7%, and 64.7%) significantly increased with CKD stage 3b, 4, and 5, respectively. The results demonstrated the prevalence and relationship of abnormal mineral metabolism and bone growth according to CKD stage in Korean pediatric CKD patients for the first time.

Plasma manganese and selenium levels in paediatric chronic kidney disease patients measured by high resolution sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

BackgroundManganese (Mn) and Selenium (Se) deficiencies are noted in adult patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, levels of these trace elements have not been well studied in the paediatric CKD population. We determined the Mn and Se levels in a single-institution cohort of paediatric patients with CKD.MethodsAncillary cross-sectional study to a prospective longitudinal randomized control trial on zinc supplementation, which included 42 children and adolescents aged 0 to 19 years with CKD stages I to IV not on dialysis, who had 1–6 trace element measurements. Cystatin C estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Filler formula. Plasma Mn and Se levels were measured, and anthropomorphic data/blood parameters were collected from electronic health records. The trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02126293.ResultsThere were 96 Mn and Se levels in 42 patients (age 12.5 ± 4.6 years). The median Mn concentration was 12.61 nmol/L [10.08, 16.42] with a trend towards lower values with lower eGFR (p = 0.0367 one-sided). Mn z-scores were significantly lower than the general paediatric reference population. The mean Se level was 1.661 ± 0.3399 µmol/L with a significant positive correlation with eGFR (p = 0.0159, r = 0.366). However, only 4 patients with low eGFR had abnormally low Se levels.ConclusionsThis single-institution study of children with CKD demonstrates a significant decrease in Se levels with decreasing eGFR, but no significant difference between mean Se z-scores of our cohort and the reference population. There was no significant relationship between Mn levels and eGFR however the mean Mn z-score was significantly lower than the theoretical mean.Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02126293, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02126293. Date: April 30, 2014.

Nutritional Assessment and Support in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease: The Benefits of Working with a Registered Dietitian.

An unbalanced dietary pattern, characterized by high animal protein content: may worsen metabolic control, accelerate renal deterioration and consequently aggravate the stage of the chronic kidney disease (CKD) in pediatric patients with this condition. to assess the effect of a registered dietitian (RD) intervention on the CKD children's eating habits. Anthropometric and dietetic parameters, obtained at baseline and 12 months after implementing healthy eating and nutrition education sessions, were compared in 16 patients (50% girls) of 8.1 (1-15) years. On each occasion, anthropometry, 3-day food records and a food consumption frequency questionnaire were carried out. The corresponding relative intake of macro- and micronutrients was contrasted with the current advice by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and with consumption data obtained using the Spanish dietary guidelines. Student's paired t-test, Wilcoxon test and Mc Nemar test were used. At Baseline 6% were overweight, 69% were of normal weight and 25% were underweight. Their diets were imbalanced in macronutrient composition. Following nutritional education and dietary intervention 63%, 75% and 56% met the Dietary Reference Values requirements for fats, carbohydrates and fiber, respectively, but not significantly. CKD children decreased protein intake (p < 0.001), increased dietary fiber intake at the expense of plant-based foods consumption (p < 0.001) and a corresponding reduction in meat, dairy and processed food intake was noticed. There were no changes in the medical treatment followed or in the progression of the stages. RD-led nutrition intervention focused on good dieting is a compelling helpful therapeutic tool to improve diet quality in pediatric CKD patients.

Fatigue assessment and its predictors in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease stages III to V

BackgroundChronic fatigue is an intense subjective feeling of mental or physical exhaustion. It influences patients’ daily functioning and quality of life, delays recovery, and increases mortality, especially in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The aim of this study is to assess and determine predictors of chronic fatigue in children with ESRD, dialysis, and pre-dialysis stages that can affect the patients’ quality of life (QOL).MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study on 114 patients diagnosed with CKD stages III to V, following at the nephrology outpatient clinic and hemodialysis (HD) unit of Cairo University Children’s Hospital during the period September 2020 till April 2021. Demographic and laboratory data of patients were gathered, and dialytic analysis in the form of frequency, duration of dialysis sessions, and adequacy of hemodialysis was calculated. The fatigue severity score (FSS) questionnaire was used to assess fatigue’s effects on daily functions, querying its relationship to motivation, physical activity, work, family, and social life.ResultsThe mean age in the current study was (8.8 ± 1.8) years, with 62% being males. The median FSS score was 5.8, with a higher FSS score in stage V CKD patients. High e-GFR, serum sodium, folic acid, and L-carnitine supplementation all reduced the intensity of fatigue, while prolonged HD duration, acidosis, hypertension, and non-compliance to vitamin D replacement increased tiredness severity.ConclusionRoutine fatigue assessment and measures to reduce it is a fundamental issue in pediatric CKD patients for better QOL.

Calcitriol levels and the stage of chronic kidney disease in children

Background Kidney damage in chronic kidney disease (CKD) disrupts the 1?-hydroxylase enzyme, preventing the conversion of vitamin D into the active form of calcitriol. To our knowledge, no previous studies have assessed calcitriol levels in children with CKD. Decreased vitamin D levels may occur at an early stage of the disease, so it is important to evaluate calcitriol levels in children with early stage CKD.&#x0D; Objective To assess calcitriol levels in children with CKD according to disease stage and other characteristics.&#x0D; Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 43 pediatric CKD patients at Dr. M Djamil Hospital, Padang, Indonesia. We recorded patient characteristics and performed laboratory tests, including routine hematology, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, uric acid, electrolytes, calcium, and calcitriol levels. Based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR), patients were grouped into either early-stage (stages I and II), or advanced-stage (stages III to V) CKD. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the association between calcitriol levels with disease stage and other characteristics.&#x0D; Results The overall mean calcitriol level of our subjects was 108.77 (SD 10.79) pmol/L. Mean levels at each CKD stage from I to V were 164.28 (SD 160.90), 94.14 (SD 50.63), 72.16 (SD 13.18), 62.92 (SD 4.87), and 67.51 (SD 4.87) pmol/L, respectively. Calcitriol levels did not differ significantly by CKD stage (P=0.114) when each stage from I to V was considered separately. There was no significant difference in calcitriol levels by growth characteristics (P=0.944), etiology (P=0.311), or anemic status (P=0.104). However, low calcitriol levels were found in all subjects with advanced stage CKD, compared to 63.6% subjects with early stage CKD (P=0.004). Mean calcitriol levels were significantly lower in CKD stage IV (P=0.049) and stage V (P=0.027) compared to stage I.&#x0D; Conclusions The decrease in calcitriol level occurs at an early stage in CKD. Calcitriol levels are significantly lower in advanced stage than in early stage CKD.

REIN : un outil au service des patients pédiatriques

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the REIN (French Renal Epidemiology and Information Network), a summary work on the contributions of the national French ESKD register was carried out. On the issue of paediatric CKD patients, the following key messages were retained. Paediatric stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) has particularities that require to be analysed and taken into account because the mortality of these patients remains 30 times higher than that of children of the same age. The REIN registry enables illustrating the specificities of stage 5 CKD in the paediatric age-group in France and providing a set of indicators making it possible to describe the future of these patients as well as the choices made concerning the modalities of replacement therapy. As compared to other European countries, the incidence and prevalence of stage 5 CKD in France is in the middle range for children under 15 and 20 years old. Renal transplant is by far the leading treatment for stage 5 CKD in children and adolescents under 18 years of age in France, allowing to offer these patients the best possible life expectancy. Owing to the small volume of patients, only a nationwide registry can provide an unbiased view and enables analysing this population requiring a hyperspecialised treatment. The participation of French paediatric nephrologists in the REIN French registry also enables providing input to the European registry (ESPN/ERA www.espn-reg.org/index.jsp) and the international registry (IPNA https://ipna-registry.org) (Consulted on September 15th 2022) and thus the possibility of international studies, which are vital to be in line with an approach to improving practices.

Racial-ethnic diversity in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children with chronic kidney disease

BackgroundBlack adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have higher rates of hypertension as compared to White adults with CKD. Little is known of how race and ethnicity associate with the prevalence of hypertension in pediatric CKD patients. The aim was to compare ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) results for patients with CKD enrolled in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) study across racial-ethnic groups.MethodsPatients from the CKiD study who identified as non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black, or Hispanic were included to analyze differences in ABPM results across these racial-ethnic groups. The outcomes were fitted using 3 progressively adjusted models.ResultsThis study included 501 CKiD participants with at least one successful ABPM study. Compared to White participants, Black participants had 4.2 mmHg higher mean sleep systolic blood pressure and 2.7 mmHg higher mean sleep diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.001 and p = 0.004, respectively). Additionally, Black participants had higher odds of abnormal wake systolic load (OR 1.88, 1.21–2.91, p = 0.005), wake diastolic load (OR 1.68, 1.03–2.73, p = 0.04), sleep systolic load (OR 2.19, 1.36–3.5, p = 0.001), sleep diastolic load (OR 2.01, 1.28–3.15, p = 0.002), systolic non-dipping (OR 2.02, 1.31–3.10, p = 0.001), and diastolic non-dipping (OR 2.69, 1.60–4.51, p < 0.001). Compared to White participants, Hispanic participants demonstrated only a lower sleep diastolic load (OR 0.54, 0.31–0.95, p = 0.03).ConclusionsBlack children with CKD have higher absolute nocturnal blood pressures and higher rates of abnormal dipping. Further studies are needed to determine the etiology of these differences and the clinical implications of racial-ethnic differences in ABPM outcomes within the pediatric CKD population.Graphical abstractA higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information

Effects of pediatric chronic kidney disease and its etiology on tissue sodium concentration: a pilot study.

Sodium-23 magnetic resonance imaging (23Na MRI) allows non-invasive assessment of tissue sodium concentration ([Na+]). Age and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are associated with increased tissue [Na+] in adults, but limited information is available pertaining to children and adolescents. We hypothesized that pediatric CKD is associated with altered tissue [Na+] compared to healthy controls. This was a case-control exploratory study on healthy children and adults and pediatric CKD patients. Study participants underwent an investigational visit, blood/urine biochemistry, and leg 23Na MRI for tissue [Na+] quantification (whole leg, skin, soleus muscle). CKD was stratified by etiology and patients' tissue [Na+] was compared against healthy controls by computing individual Z-scores. An absolute Z-score > 1.96 was deemed to deviate significantly from the mean of healthy controls. Pearson correlation was used to compute the associations between tissue [Na+] and kidney function. A total of 36 pediatric participants (17 healthy, 19 CKD) and 19 healthy adults completed the study. Healthy adults had significantly higher tissue [Na+] compared with pediatric groups; conversely, no significant differences were found between healthy children/adolescents and CKD patients. Four patients with glomerular disease and one kidney transplant recipient due to atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome had elevated whole-leg [Na+] Z-scores. Reduced whole-leg [Na+] Z-scores were found in two patients with tubular disorders (Fanconi syndrome, proximal-distal renal tubular acidosis). All tissue [Na+] measures were significantly associated with proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia. Depending on etiology, pediatric CKD was associated with either increased (glomerular disease) or reduced (tubular disorders) tissue [Na+] compared with healthy controls. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.