Renal replacement therapy in infants with chronic renal failure in the first year of life.
OBJECTIVE
Although results of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in small children have improved during recent years, data about RRT in neonates are scarce.


METHODS
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.
Wedekin
Mirja
M
Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
Ehrich
Jochen H H
JH
Offner
Gisela
G
Pape
Lars
L
D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies