[Measurement of health-related quality of life in children with chronic kidney disease using a specific test. Influence of treatment]. / Medida mediante un test específico de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud en niños con enfermedad renal crónica. Influencia del tratamiento.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects the daily life of the child especially during the stage where their personal development takes place. Adult renal patients have a demonstrated worse health related quality of life (HRQL) mainly under hemodialysis (HD), however there are few published data about HRQL in children with CKD, most of them obtained after patient s childhood or with generic tests that do not discriminate changes in a specific disease. OBJECTIVE: To assess how our patients perceive their health by measuring the HRQL and its most affected domains. To determine how the different therapies affect the child with CKD and the agreement on the opinion between children and their parents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 71 CKD children and their parents in a cross-sectional study (33 transplanted, 11 peritoneal dialysis [PD], 5 HD, 22 conservative treatment). We used a specific quality of life test for CKD children that we had previously developed (TECAVNER). If the child was younger than 9 years, only their parents completed the survey. RESULTS: children on HD refer a worse HRQL followed by those who underwent PD and those transplanted. The best HRQL was obtained in children with conservative treatment. Both parents and children agree that the domains more frequently affected are physical activity and school attendance especially those on HD. The way the adolescents 15 years and older perceived their health was similar to that of their parents. This was not the case in the younger group, 9 through 15 ears.

[Design of a quality of life questionnaire in Spanish for children with chronic kidney disease]. / Desarrollo de un cuestionario en español de medida de calidad de la vida en pacientes pediátricos con enfermedad renal crónica.

UNLABELLED: Treatment of chronic kidney disease in childhood must include assessment of social and psychological aspects involved in the perceived quality of life of the child and its family. Our objective has been to design a specific tool in Spanish for measuring quality of life in pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease, since there is not a validated test for children at the moment. RESULTS: We designed a specific questionnaire for kidney disease in children based on the test of quality of life for adults with kidney disease (KDQOL-SFTM) and on the test of quality of life for children with epilepsy (CAVE) adapting them to children with kidney disease, denominating TECAVNER (Test of Quality of Life in Children with Kidney Disease). Reliability of this questionnaire determined be alfa Cronbach coefficient was 0,92. LIMITATIONS: Questionnaire determined by Test-retest reliability and construct validity were not conducted. In conclusion, this is a first approach for design a specific health related quality of life test in Spanish for children with chronic kidney disease.

[Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy: our experience in short-term hospital stay]. / Nefrectomía retroperitoneoscópica. Nuestra experiencia con ingreso en hospital de corta estancia.

OBJECTIVE: To prove that the nephrectomy, in spite of being a major surgery, requires less than 48 hours stay hospital if it is performed by retro peritoneal approach. Consequently this procedure can be carry out in a short hospital stay. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From 1995, we have treat 40 patients by retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy, 46 nephrectomies in total, being bilateral in 6 patients because of terminal renal failure (TRF), who do not take part in that study. The average age was 4.8 years range old (with a rank between 6 months and 13 years old), in relation with sex, male (n=16) and female (n=18). As for the side of the nephrectomy, it was the right in 20 cases and left in 14. Those pathologies, which indicated the nephrectomy because of kidney's functional annulations, were: obstructive hydronephrosis (n=2); obstructive megaureter (n=1); kidney destroyed by reflux (n=8); multicystic displasia (n=11); involution multicystic diyplasia (n=12). RESULTS: In all the cases, the nephrectomy was pure retroperitoneal approach. The average time of surgical duration was of 92 minutes (with a range between 60-240 minutes). It was reconversion in 1 case (4.5%) by peritoneal micro perforation (n=1). We underline absence of inherent complications to retroperitoneoscopy, intraoperative and postoperative procedures. As secondary complications to the access surgical procedure were 2 wall relaxations because of incisional injury and one serum collection of the first port site. The bleeding during the operative act was imperceptible, less than 20 cc. Drainages were not left in the operative bed. The average stay has been reduced to 27 hours, without being counted the 6 cases of TRF. In the last 18 cases the hospitality discharge was made in the first 24 h postoperative. The analgesic established by protocol was analgesic of infiltration of ports site with 1% bupivacaine and one dose of paracetamol/ibuprofen, given 12h after the intervention and repeated after hospitality discharge. Essumpcion of their day home-life and school- was earlier in 100% of cases. We underline the absence of secondary complications to pain (breathing) neither to immobilization. CONCLUSIONS: The retroperitoneoscopic nephectomy is a clearly established indication and of required fulfilment in paediatric age. It is the suitable surgical boarding to perform a nephrectomy because of its reliability, reproductibile and safety. Media hospital stayis lesser when the nephrectomy was performed by retro peritoneal approach than conventional surgery. Consequently this procedure can be carry out in a short hospital stay.

Immunoprophylaxis with Simulect (basiliximab) in pediatric kidney transplant recipients: results from routine clinical practice at 5 kidney transplant units.

BACKGROUND: Simulect (basiliximab) was introduced in Spain in February 1999, being the first anti-interleukin-2 receptor monoclonal antibody used in our country for the prevention of acute rejection in kidney transplantation. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Simulect (basiliximab) in routine clinical practice in pediatric Spanish kidney transplantation units. METHODS: In this prospective, observational study, we collected data related to demographics, parameters of efficacy, immunosuppressive therapy, and safety on kidney transplant patients treated with Simulect (basiliximab) using an on-line collection system. RESULTS: Fifty pediatric patients at 5 kidney transplant units with 12 months follow-up included recipient mean age of 10.00 years (DS 5.40). Twenty-nine (58.00%) were boys and 21 (42.00%) were girls. Cold ischemia time was 15 hours and 50 minutes (DS 9.70 h). No patient presented with a PRA >50%. For prophylactic immunosuppression, 85.70% of patients received triple therapy with CNI (cyclosporine 48.97% or tacrolimus 36.73%), MMF (87.76%) or AZA (12.24%), and steroids. Acute rejection incidence at 12 months was 22%, including 3 steroid-resistant episodes (6%). One patient lost the graft (2%), 7 adverse events (AE) were reported (1 mild, 4 moderate, and 1 severe AE), of which none were attributed to the study drug. CONCLUSIONS: Simulect (basiliximab) treatment of pediatric patients who underwent kidney transplantations performed in routine clinical practice showed good prophylaxis against acute rejection with excellent safety.

[Nephronophthisis: study of 10 cases. Incidence, natural history and associated pathology (author's transl)]. / Nefronoptisis: análisis de 10 casos. Incidencia, historia natural y patología asociada.

Nephronophthisis is a chronic interstitial nephropathy which in childhood may lead to terminal renal failure. Between January 1975 and July 1980, 41 children with terminal renal failure were seen in our service, of which 10 (21.9%) presented with nephronophthisis. Age of the patients ranged from 3.5-18 years, boys were in the majority (8/2). Three cases were isolated and 7 were familial (3 families). Onset was during the first year of life in 8 patients, and polydipsia-polyuria were the first symptoms. Retarded growth and anemia proportionate to the degree of renal failure were present in all patients. When diagnosed, 5 patients (50%) presented terminal renal failure, and the other 5 had renal failure of different degrees. Moderate proteinuria was found in 4 patients, without changes in urine sediment. Sodium depletion in urine was high in 5 cases and maximal urine osmolarity was less than 500 muOsm/l after hydropenia in all cases. Four had associated mental deficiency with cerebellar ataxia associated in two and congenital hepatic fibrosis (confirmed histologically) in one. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy in 8 and in two of these on frozen section during nephrectomy prior to kidney transplantation. At present, five of the patients are in maintenance hemodialysis, two died at home due to cardiovascular complications in terminal renal insufficiency and the remaining ones presented different degrees of renal insufficiency. Time elapsed between onset of the symptoms and inclusion in hemodialysis or death ranges form 6 months to 13 years (mean 6.7 years).

[Pediatric renal transplantation from young children donors (aged < or = 6 years). Complications and functional clinical course]. / Trasplante renal pediátrico con injertos de donantes infantiles de corta edad (< or = 6 años). Complicaciones y evolución funcional.

GOALS: To evaluate functional results and complications in a group of pediatric patients who received kidney transplants from donors aged 6 years or less. MATERIAL & METHODS: Thirty-four consecutive renal transplants were reviewed. Of 34 patients, 19 (55.8%) received kidneys from donors aged below 3 years (Group A) and 15 (44.2%) from donors aged 3-6 years (Group B). Long-term functional patient and graft survival results along with complications were compared in both groups. RESULTS: Seven patients in group A (36.7%) had vascular complications, in comparison to 3 in group B (20%, p<0.05). Kidneys preserved in Eurocollins (EC) solution had more vascular complications (35.3%) in comparison to University of Wisconsin (UW) solution kidneys (23.5%, p<0.05). Ten-year graft survival rate in group A was significantly lower in comparison to group B (35.5% vs 58.6%, p<0.05). In relation to preservation solution type used, 10-year graft survival rate was also significantly better in UW group (26.8% vs 63%, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The exclusion of donors younger than 3 years and the utilization of optimal preservation solutions produces a decrease in figures of vascular complications and a significant improvement in graft survival rates.

Second cadaveric kidney transplantations in the pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the functional outcomes and complications among a series of second in comparison to first kidney transplantations in pediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 163 consecutive kidney transplants in pediatric recipients performed from 1978 to present: 120 cases (69.3%) were first transplants (group A) and 43 (24.8%), second transplant (group B). We analyzed the incidences of delayed graft function (DGF), medical and surgical complications, as well as medium- and long-term graft survivals. RESULTS: We observed DGF among 51 group A patients (43%) versus 32.5% of group B. Ten patients suffered vascular complications in group A (8.3%) versus one in group B (2.3%) (P < .05). The 15-year graft survivals were 54.2% for group A and 45% for group B. The 15-year patient survivals were 84.9% in group A versus 93.6% in group B. CONCLUSIONS: Second kidney transplantations for children are a satisfactory option that achieves good functional results as well as acceptable graft and patient survivals.

Paediatric experience with acetate-free biofiltration.

We describe our preliminary experience with five children who received acetate-free biofiltration, a modification of haemodiafiltration without buffer in the dialysate and simultaneous infusion of bicarbonate through a venous port. Adequacy of haemodialysis (HD) was achieved with 3 h treatments three times per week (mean Kt/v 1.35 +/- 0.29, mean protein catabolic rate (PCR) 1.4 +/- 0.3 mg/dl). During the session, pH increased from 7.4 pre HD to 7.5 post HD. The mean bicarbonate infused as a 0.166 M solution averaged 235 +/- 35 mEq/h. Hypertension did not occur. There were no cramps, hypotension or vomiting. Bicarbonate requirements correlated significantly with dialyser surface area and body weight (r = 0.76, P < 0.001).

[Pediatric kidney transplants and herpesvirus infections]. / Trasplante renal pediátrico e infecciones por virus del grupo herpes.

Twenty seven children were followed up prospectively after renal transplant for evidence of infection and illness due to cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). Virus shedding and serological status were tested at transplant day, biweekly for two months, monthly for six months and trimestrialy thereafter. Determinations were done by complement fixation test. CMV isolation was established by microscopic examination of urinary cultures. Primary infections were objetivated in 27 cases (18 CMV, 1 EBV, 8 VZV) and reinfection in 3 (2 CMV, 1 VZV). Irreversible allograft rejection related to infection was disclosed in 2 patients (1 primary CMV infection, 1 VZV reinfection). Renal function impairment occurred only with CMV (6 primary and 1 secondary infections). One patient died with CMV over infection.