Pediatric Renal Replacement Therapy Outcomes
Summary
Pediatric renal replacement therapy (RRT) encompasses haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplantation as lifesaving interventions for children with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Over recent decades, survival rates have improved markedly thanks to advances in immunosuppressive regimens, dialysis technology and multidisciplinary care. Nonetheless, mortality in this population remains substantially higher than among healthy peers, driven by cardiovascular complications, infection risk and challenges in achieving optimal growth and development. Long-term outcomes vary by modality, age at initiation and underlying renal disorder, and are influenced by socioeconomic factors and health-system resources. Quality of life considerations, including psychosocial support and transition to adult services, have become central to care paradigms, reflecting global efforts to harmonise treatment access and optimise clinical pathways for children with kidney failure.
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Pediatric Renal Replacement Therapy Outcomes publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in pediatric renal replacement therapy outcomes across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
End-stage kidney disease (ESKD): The final, irreversible stage of chronic kidney disease requiring renal replacement therapy to sustain life.
Haemodialysis: A treatment modality using an extracorporeal circuit and artificial membrane to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood.
Peritoneal dialysis: A home-based therapy that employs the patient’s peritoneal membrane as a semipermeable filter to clear toxins and balance fluid.
Kidney transplantation: Surgical replacement of a failed kidney with a donor organ, offering improved survival and quality of life compared with long-term dialysis.
Incidence: The rate at which new cases of paediatric RRT are initiated in a defined population over a specific time period.
Prevalence: The total number of children living on RRT in a given population at a particular point in time.
References
- Cardiovascular diseases morbidity and mortality among children, adolescents and young adults with dialysis therapy. Frontiers in Public Health (2023).
- Ten-year trends in epidemiology and outcomes of pediatric kidney replacement therapy in Europe: data from the ESPN/ERA-EDTA Registry. Pediatric Nephrology (2021).
- Mortality in Children Treated With Maintenance Peritoneal Dialysis: Findings From the International Pediatric Peritoneal Dialysis Network Registry. American Journal of Kidney Diseases (2021).
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