Abstract
Intracellular water (ICW=tritium minus corrected sodium bromide space) was measured as an estimate of body cell mass in 40 uraemic children. Group I: 13 infants 0.3-3.0yrs on conservative treatment,GFR 3-19 ml/min/1.73m2, Group II: 8 children 7-17yrs on conservative treatment, GFR 5-19, Group III: 19 children on regular haemodialysis. ICW was expressed as a fraction of the value predicted for height (O/P) (Cheek et al, Am J Clin Nutr, 1977, 30, 851 and 1978, 31, 1328). In Group I values were markedly reduced(mean O/P 0.61, range 0.48-0.97) and were correlated negatively with height deficit (p < 0.05) and positively with chronological age (p=0.05). In Group II mean O/P was 0.91 (range 0.8-1.0) and did not correlate with height deficit or age. In Group III O/P was reduced compared to normal in prepubertal (mean O/P 0.77, range 0.66-0.98)but not pubertal (mean O/P 0.98, range 0.63-1.52)children. These changes suggest that depleted protein reserves are common in uraemic children, particularly infants. Normalisation of body cell mass at puberty may be the result of increased androgen production. Estimation of ICW is useful as an index of nutritional status in uraemic children.
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Jones, R., El-Bishti, M., Rigden, S. et al. BODY COMPOSITION IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE. Pediatr Res 14, 1016 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198008000-00257
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198008000-00257
