Neurological Complications and Associated Risk Factors in Children Affected with Chronic Kidney Disease.

To investigate the correlation between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the development of neurological disease among pediatric patients in Saudi Arabia. The present retrospective study recruited patients admitted to King Abdulaziz University Hospital during 2018. We reviewed electronic records to collect data on essential demographics including age, gender, and nationality; history of prior CNS disease or related symptoms; results of neurological physical examination; and findings of radiological investigations such as abdominal ultrasound, dimercaptosuccinic acid scan, micturating cystourethrogram, diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid scan, brain computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging. The most commonly diagnosed renal pathologies were neurogenic bladder and cystic kidney disease. The most common neurological manifestation was seizure disorder. Males were more frequently affected with neurological sequelae than females. The prevalence of neurological disorders was higher in patients over two years old. The most frequently observed stage of chronic kidney disease was stage 5. Most children who were affected with a neurological disorder required hemodialysis as part of their management plan. Patients with chronic kidney disease are at a high risk of neurocognitive defects. The type of management and renal diagnosis are significant factors that should be considered when anticipating central nervous system involvement in the case of chronic kidney disease.

Short-term outcome associated with disease severity and electrolyte abnormalities among critically ill children with acute kidney injury.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill children is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. In this study we evaluated the effect of AKI severity on the incidence of short-term mortality and morbidity. METHODS: Multicenter prospective cohort study was conducted over two years period. We used the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) to diagnose and stage AKI. RESULTS: A total of 511 out of 1367 included children (37.4%; 95% CI: 34.8-40.0) were diagnosed with AKI. They were categorized into three KDIGO stages: stage I (mild) in 47.5% (95% CI: 43.2-52.0), stage II (moderate) in 32.8% (95% CI: 28.8-37.1) and stage III (severe) in 19.7% (95% CI: 16.4-23.5). Stage II and III AKI had higher risk of mortality and longer length of stay (LOS) in hospital. Children with stage III AKI were more likely to require mechanical ventilation, referral to pediatric nephrology and discharge with abnormal creatinine level (above 100 uml\L). Hypervolemia, hypocalcemia, anemia, and acidosis were found to be independent risk factors of mortality. CONCLUSION: The extent of severity of AKI is directly associated with increased mortality, LOS and short-term morbidity.

Outcome of acute kidney injury in pediatric patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). We aimed to describe the etiology, clinical features, and outcome of AKI in pediatric patients and to determine the predictors for initiation of renal replacement and mortality. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed of the medical records for all patients who were admitted to the PICU at King Abdulaziz University Hospital between January 1 and December 31, 2011. The pediatric-modified RIFLE criteria were used to classify AKI. RESULTS: We included 102 children with AKI, aged 4 - 60 months. Oliguria (61.5%, p < 0.0001) and hypervolemic signs (38.5%, p = 0.03) were more common among patients with RIFLE class failure. They also had the highest mortality (53.9%, p = 0.01). Oliguric patients were ~ 23 times more likely than their non-oliguric counterparts to be initiated on renal replacement therapy (RRT) (RR = 23.38, 95% CI: 3.07 - 178.16). Diuretic infusion was also a strong predictor for RRT initiation (RR = 10.00, 95% CI: 2.77 - 36.12). Hypervolemic patients were twice more likely to die during hospitalization in both unadjusted and adjusted models (RR = 2.06, 95% CI: 1.09 - 3.90, and aRR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.09 - 5.51, respectively). Mechanical ventilation and RRT initiation were associated with higher likelihood of death (ARR = 13.23, 95% CI: 1.90 - 92.04, and ARR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.18 - 4.12, respectively). Patients with RIFLE class Failure were about thrice more likely than patients with RIFLE class Risk to die in both the unadjusted (RR = 2.76, 95% CI: 1.35 - 5.65), and adjusted models (ARR = 2.88, 95% CI: 1.38 - 6.04). Children with AKI had longer PICU stay (0.0003) and higher mortality (< 0.0001) than the non-AKI group. CONCLUSION: Severe AKI predicted high mortality in critically ill children.

Pediatric CKD and cardiovascular disease.

Children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the possible risk factors for early atherosclerosis in children with CKD. Endothelial dysfunction, a precursor of atherosclerosis, starts early in renal disease, as indicated by increased carotid artery intima media thickness, carotid arterial wall stiffness, impaired flow mediated dilatation, and coronary artery calcification, which are frequently present in children with CKD. Many risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, renal bone disease, hyperhomocysteinemia, and uremia-related cardiovascular risk factors are associated with CKD. All of these risk factors are modifiable and optimal clinical management can delay or prevent cardiovascular disease. Another strategy to decrease the risk of premature cardiac disease and death in children with CKD is to slow the progression of renal disease.