Comparison of Growth during Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and Renal Transplantation using Conventional Immunosuppressive Drugs in Children

Abstract

Objective

Growth during continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and after renal transplantation (Tx) was assessed in children under the age of 12 years.

Design

Growth was assessed by calculating the standard deviation score for height of normal children of the same age and gender.

Patients

Twenty-one patients undergoing CAPD and 13 patients who had received renal Tx at Kitasato University Hospital.

Results

Overall growth in those children undergoing CAPD and after renal Tx was not good, but growth during CAPD seemed to be slightly better than after renal Tx using conventional immunosuppressive drugs. Only young children who had started CAPD or received renal Tx before the age of 5 years with functioning graft showed catch-up growth, but the final height of these children may still be smaller than normal.

Conclusion

Growth in children with end-stage renal disease is poor but growth during CAPD seems to be slightly better than after renal Tx using conventional immunosuppressive drugs.