A hospital-based intermittent nocturnal hemodialysis program for children and adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To establish a hospital-based nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) program for children and adolescents. STUDY DESIGN: Sixteen patients (age, 0.5 to 17 years) were prospectively included. Uremia-associated measures as well as amount and dosage of medication were enumerated. Quality of life also was evaluated. Results were compared with data of the same patients on conventional hemodialysis and with matched control subjects (conventional HD). RESULTS: NHD was well tolerated. Median Kt/V values increased. Predialytic mean arterial pressure, urea, phosphate, and parathyroid hormone levels decreased. There was an increase in protein catabolic rate. Dietary and fluid restrictions could be lifted. Amount and dosage of phosphate and potassium binders and antihypertensive medication could be reduced. Quality of life improved and days of absence from school decreased in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to a better control of uremia-associated measures, NHD allows free dietary and fluid intake and improves patient well-being. Given the continuing shortage of donor organs for kidney transplantation and the high morbidity and mortality on conventional HD, intensified dialysis regimens are a much-needed therapeutic option.

Arterial stiffness in children after renal transplantation.

Long-term survival after successful transplantation is limited by cardiovascular disease. We studied changes in arterial function in children after renal transplantation. We measured pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and the augmentation index (AIX) as estimated from central pulse-wave analysis in 36 patients with a functioning kidney transplant (mean age 14 +/- 3.4 years) and 49 healthy children (mean age 13.3 +/- 3.3 years). Transplantation had been performed 4.3 +/- 3.3 years prior to examination. Transplanted patients had a significantly higher mean PWV of 5.43 +/- 0.9 m/s; controls 4.68 +/- 0.7 m/s. Likewise, the AIX was significantly higher in patients (-14.3 +/- 15.2) than in controls -26.3 +/- 13.5. We found no significant associations with the degree of transplant dysfunction, glomerular filtration rate (GFR) loss, or dose of immunosuppressive medications; however, the AIX was associated with the serum calcium-phosphorus product, and PWV correlated with systolic blood pressure and age. This study suggests that subclinical arteriopathy is present in young transplant recipients.

Arterial and cardiac disease in young adults with childhood-onset end-stage renal disease-impact of calcium and vitamin D therapy.

BACKGROUND: Studies in patients with childhood-onset end-stage renal disease (ESRD) provide a diagnostic window to the evolution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in this population. Hyperphosphataemia and renal osteodystrophy are particularly difficult to treat in paediatric patients, but there is only limited information regarding the effect of calcium-containing phosphate binders and vitamin D preparations on the development of CVD in the young. METHODS: We studied 40 adult patients (mean age 23.6 years) who developed ESRD at the age of 11.5 +/- 4 years and 40 matched healthy control subjects. Nine patients were on dialysis and 31 had a functioning kidney transplant. Measurements included intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery, electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) for the detection of coronary artery calcifications (CAC), echocardiography and post-ischaemic arterial blood flow by venous occlusion plethysmography. Patient characteristics, atherosclerotic risk factors and a complete account of prescribed medications were analysed for correlations with arterial and cardiac changes. RESULTS: The IMT was not significantly different in patients and controls; four patients (10%) had coronary calcifications on EBCT. Twenty-five patients (62.5%) had left ventricular hypertrophy. Patients had a 40% reduction of post-ischaemic arterial flow. Morphological alterations of the heart and arteries were significantly correlated with the duration of ESRD and dialysis time, and with the cumulative intake of calcium-containing phosphate binders and active vitamin D preparations. Functional changes (vascular reactivity) were correlated with duration of ESRD and non-traditional risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: Young adults with ESRD since childhood have systemic CVD characterized by a decrease in arterial elasticity, the occurrence of CAC and changes in left ventricular morphology. Treatment with calcium-containing phosphate binders and active vitamin D preparations is independently associated in a dose-dependent manner with surrogate markers for CVD.

Two familial cases with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome caused by a non-cysteine mutation (T50M) in the TNFRSF1A gene associated with severe multiorganic amyloidosis.

An adolescent boy had had recurrent episodes of fever, abdominal pain, and arthralgias since the age of 7 years. Progressive renal failure due to renal amyloidosis developed, leading to renal transplant at the age of 14.5 years. Five years later, he developed AA amyloidosis in the transplant as well as the thyroid gland. His father had had similar symptoms including systemic amyloidosis since the age of 6 years. DNA sequence analysis revealed a heterozygous mutation in the TNFRSF1A (TNFa-receptor 1) gene (T50M) in both father and son causing tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS). Previous phenotype/genotype analyses have proposed that this mutation is usually not associated with the occurrence of amyloidosis. This difference in the clinical course in different families may indicate a strong influence of modifier genes. Treatment with a TNFRSF1B fusion protein TNF antagonist (etanercept) favorably influenced the disease course.

A gene locus for steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome with deafness maps to chromosome 14q24.2.

Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) leads to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in childhood or young adulthood. Positional cloning for genes causing SRNS has opened the first insights into the understanding of its pathogenesis. This study reports a genome-wide search for linkage in a consanguineous Palestinian kindred with SRNS and deafness and detection of a region of homozygosity on chromosome 14q24.2. Multipoint analysis of 12 markers used for further fine mapping resulted in a LOD score Z(max) of 4.12 (theta = 0) for marker D14S1025 and a two-point LOD score of Z(max) = 3.46 (theta = 0) for marker D14S77. Lack of homozygosity defined D14S1065 and D14S273 as flanking markers to a 10.7 cM interval. The identification of the responsible gene will provide new insights into the molecular basis of nephrotic syndrome and sensorineural deafness.