The spectrum of chronic renal failure among Jordanian children.
BACKGROUND
The causes of chronic renal failure (CRF) vary from one country to another. In this study we reviewed our experience with the different types of renal disorders leading to CRF in Jordanian children.


METHODS
We investigated CRF in 202 Jordanian children (113 males and 89 females) who presented to the Jordan University Hospital, Amman, in the period from July 1988 to April 2001. The mean age at onset of CRF was 7.5 +/- 3.9 years. Patients were followed for 0.6-12.6 years (mean 6.3 years).


RESULTS
The causes of CRF included urological abnormalities and malformations (42.1%), hereditary renal disorders (29.7%), glomerulonephritis (GN)(14.4%), renal hypo- or dysplasia (5%), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) (4.5%), and idiopathic (4.5%). Forty-nine patients required renal replacement therapy, most of them with peritoneal dialysis. Nine patients have undergone renal transplantation. We estimated the prevalence of CRF in children in Jordan to be 51 per million population, and the incidence as 10.7 new cases per million-child population per year.


CONCLUSIONS
The high rate of hereditary disorders in our series is attributed to the high prevalence of parental consanguinity in our community. There was a striking number of patients with non-neurogenic neurogenic bladder in our study. The relative incidence of GN leading to CRF in Jordan is lower than in Europe and North America. The relative incidence of the other causes of CRF in our series is similar to many other countries. The incidence and prevalence of CRF in children in Jordan is high compared to other countries.
Hamed
Radi M A
RM
Department of Pediatrics, Jordan University Hospital, Amman. hamedr@index.com.jo
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis; D015995:Prevalence; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000150:complications