title: Renal function in children suffering from sickle cell disease: challenge of early detection in highly resource-scarce settings.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prevalence of Sickle cell disease is extremely high in Democratic Republic of Congo. Despite this high prevalence of the disease, data on renal abnormalities in children are rare.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study proposed to assess blood pressure, glomerular function, urea and uric acid levels in 65 steady state Congolese children with homozygous sickle cell disease and 67 normal controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Hb-SS group, blood pressure level tended to be lower than Hb-AA groups but there was no statistically significant difference (p>0.05) between the two groups. The absolute values for GFR corrected for BSA were significantly higher in Hb-SS group compared to Hb-AA group (130.5±34.1 ml/min/1.73 m2 vs 113.7±24.5 ml/min/1.73 m2; p = 0.004). Children with Hb-SS were more likely to hyperfiltrate (30.8% of subjects) than children with Hb-AA (6.1% of subjects). Proteinuria was found in 4 (6.2%) children with Hb-SS. Uric acid level was significantly increased in children with Hb-SS compared to corresponding values in control group (4.4±1.3 mg/dl vs 3.5±1.1 mg/dl; p<0.001). Urea level was significantly decreased compared to corresponding values in Hb-AA group (15.3±8.3 mg/dl vs 22.9±10.1 mg/dl; p<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperfiltration, low creatinine, lower urea and high uric acid are more common in children with sickle cell disease than in normal controls.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hemato-oncology and Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Michel Ntetani
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Aloni
authors.affiliation: Division of Hemato-oncology and Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: René Makwala
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ngiyulu
authors.affiliation: Division of Hemato-oncology and Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Jean-Lambert
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gini-Ehungu
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Division, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Célestin Ndosimao
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Nsibu
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Mathilde Bothale
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ekila
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: François Bompeka
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Lepira
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Nazaire Mangani
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Nseka
mesh_terms: D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002648:Child; D003376:Counseling; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000150:complications; D014508:Urea / Q000097:blood; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid; D014508:Urea; D003404:Creatinine