title: Glomerular hyperfiltration is strongly correlated with age in Congolese children with sickle cell anaemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glomerular hyperfiltration is an early marker of sickle cell nephropathy and can lead to microalbuminuria and renal failure. Our aim was to identify the associated risk factors, as these could be of preventative importance.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 150 children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA), aged two to 18 years and living in Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hyperfiltration and microalbuminuria were defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 140 mL/min/1.73 m² and an albumin creatinine ratio of between 30 and 299 mg/g, respectively. Independent determinants of hyperfiltration were assessed using logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Glomerular hyperfiltration was observed in 60 (40%) children, who were significantly older (10.2 ± 4.1 versus 7.9 ± 4.3 years, p = 0.001) and had a lower body mass index level (14.7 ± 2.3 versus 15.0 ± 2.3 kg/m2) than the 60% without. A higher proportion had microalbuminuria (25.0 versus 13.3%), but the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). Increased age and decreased body mass index were the main independent factors associated with glomerular hyperfiltration in the multivariate analysis. A quarter (25%) of the 60 children with SCA with glomerular hyperfiltration had microalbuminuria.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glomerular hyperfiltration was a common finding in this study and was significantly associated with age.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hemato-oncology and Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, the 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, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: René Makuala
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, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Pépé Mfutu
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ekulu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Kikwit, Kikwit, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Fiston IkwaNdol
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Mbutiwi
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Jean Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Makulo
authors.affiliation: Division of Hemato-oncology and Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Jean Lambert
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gini-Ehungu
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: Nazaire Mangani
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Nseka
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Dialysis, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, School of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.
authors.forename: François Bompeka
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Lepira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015023:Democratic Republic of the Congo / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Children; Glomerular filtration rate; Microalbuminuria; Risk factors; Sickle cell anaemia