Hemodialysis in Children: Eleven Years in a Single Center in Egypt

Abstract

Introduction. The objective of this study was to report the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children with end-stage renal disease under regular hemodialysis in a dialysis unit in Egypt.
Materials and Methods. Ninety children with end-stage renal disease were included in this study and their charts over the past 11 years (from January 2001 to January 2012) were reviewed.

Results. The mean age of the patients at the start of hemodialysis was 5.6 ± 1.4 years. The main causes of end-stage renal disease were glomerular diseases (35.6%), unknown etiology (33.3%), and urological problems (17.8%). Hospital admissions were due to hypertensive attacks, cardiac problems, arteriovenous shunt complications, and infections. Only 3 children received a kidney transplant and 24 (26.7%) died during the 11-year follow-up. Eight patients died of heart failure, 5 due to sepsis, and 4 due to unexplained causes.

Conclusions. Maintaining an appropriate care for children with end-stage renal disease is quite difficult in developing countries due to factors such as late referral, poor medical service utilization, limitation of financial resources, and limitations to transplantation. As a result, maintaining on hemodialysis for long periods imposes a high risk of complications.