Prevalence of genetic renal disease in children.
BACKGROUND
Genetic etiology comprises a significant proportion of renal disease in childhood. Completion of the Human Genome Project and increased genetic testing has assisted with the increased recognition of a genetic basis to many renal disorders. Australia and New Zealand have a relatively stable but diverse population, with eight major pediatric nephrology referral centers, which allow ascertainment of disease frequency.


METHODS
To determine prevalence, pediatric nephrologists at the eight centers in Australia and New Zealand were surveyed on their estimated number of patients with renal disease of genetic etiology over a 10-year period. Disease prevalence was calculated using combined national population data.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of genetic kidney disease in children in Australia and New Zealand is 70.6 children per million age-representative population. Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) are the most frequent, with a prevalence of 16.3 and 10.7, respectively, per million children.


CONCLUSIONS
We find a similar prevalence of genetic renal disorders in Australia and New Zealand to those reported in other countries. This is likely to be due to inclusion of children with all forms of renal disease rather than being limited to those with renal impairment.
Centre for Kidney Research, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Lock Bag 4001 Westmead, Sydney, NSW 2145, Australia. jeffery.fletcher@gsahs.health.nsw.gov.au
Jeffery
J
Fletcher
Stephen
S
McDonald
Stephen I
SI
Alexander
D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005817:Genetic Counseling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D014564:Urogenital Abnormalities; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology