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. 2022 May;37(5):1097-1103.
doi: 10.1007/s00467-021-05293-4. Epub 2021 Oct 9.

Clinical profile of children incidentally found to have advanced kidney failure

Wael M Abukwaik  1 , Rossana Baracco  1 , Amrish Jain  1 , Melissa Gregory  1 , Rudolph P Valentini  1 , Gaurav Kapur  2
Affiliations

Clinical profile of children incidentally found to have advanced kidney failure

Wael M Abukwaik et al. Pediatr Nephrol. 2022 May.

Abstract

Introduction: No data exist on the epidemiology of children incidentally diagnosed with advanced kidney failure (KF) during evaluation for non-specific symptoms. This is likely related to unrecognized symptoms and signs of CKD. The objective of our study was to evaluate incidentally diagnosed patients with advanced KF requiring long-term kidney replacement therapy (KRT).

Methods: An IRB-approved retrospective chart review of children who started KRT with dialysis (hemo- or peritoneal) was conducted. Included were children with no prior knowledge or diagnosis of underlying kidney disease with chronic kidney disease (CKD) disease stage 4 (GFR 15-29 mL/min/1.73 m2) or 5 (GFR < 15 mL/min/1.73 m2) at initial presentation and started on chronic KRT within 2 months of presentation.

Results: Of 177 patients initiating KRT during the study period, 26 (15%) were categorized as incidental advanced KF. This cohort with mean age 12.25 years consisted of 42% males, 54% African Americans included 46% with glomerular, and 54% with non-glomerular etiology for kidney failure. Vomiting (42%) and fatigue (39%) were most common, while growth failure (19%) and hyperkalemia (7%) were less frequent on initial presentation. Anemia (100%), hypertension (96%), hyperparathyroidism (96%), and hyperphosphatemia (92%) were the most frequently seen CKD comorbidities. Chronic KRT was started within 24 h in 62% and within 2 weeks in 88% of the cohort.

Conclusion: Under-diagnosis of patients with advanced KF is most likely related to milder non-specific clinical symptoms and normal growth in the majority of patients. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Keywords: Advanced kidney failure; Children; Kidney replacement therapy.

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