Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Blood Pressure Work Group. KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Blood Pressure in Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int Suppl (2011). 2012;2 Suppl 5:S372-376. [PMID: 25018965 PMCID: PMC4089597 DOI: 10.1038/kisup.2012.56]

The wind of change in the management of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease in childhood

Significant progress has been made in understanding the genetic basis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), quantifying disease manifestations in children, exploring very-early onset ADPKD as well as pharmacological delay of disease progression in adults. At least 20% of children with ADPKD have relevant, yet mainly asymptomatic disease manifestations such as hypertension or proteinuria (in line with findings in adults with ADPKD, where hypertension and cardiovascular damage precede decline in kidney function). We propose an algorithm for work-up and management based on current recommendations that integrates the need to screen regularly for hypertension and proteinuria in offspring of affected parents with different options regarding diagnostic testing, which need to be discussed with the family with regard to ethical and practical aspects. Indications and scope of genetic testing are discussed. Pharmacological management includes renin-angiotensin system blockade as first-line therapy for hypertension and proteinuria. The vasopressin receptor antagonist tolvaptan is licensed for delaying disease progression in adults with ADPKD who are likely to experience kidney failure. A clinical trial in children is currently ongoing; however, valid prediction models to identify children likely to suffer kidney failure are lacking. Non-pharmacological interventions in this population also deserve further study.

Early microvascular complications in type 1 and type 2 diabetes: recent developments and updates

The prevalence of youth-onset diabetes is progressing rapidly worldwide, and poor glycemic control, in combination with prolonged diabetes duration and comorbidities including hypertension, has led to the early development of microvascular complications including diabetic kidney disease, retinopathy, and neuropathy. Pediatric populations with type 1 (T1D) and type 2 (T2D) diabetes are classically underdiagnosed with microvascular complications, and this leads to both undertreatment and insufficient attention to the mitigation of risk factors that could help attenuate further progression of complications and decrease the likelihood for long-term morbidity and mortality. This narrative review aims to present a comprehensive summary of the epidemiology, risk factors, symptoms, screening practices, and treatment options, including future opportunities for treatment advancement, for microvascular complications in youth with T1D and T2D. We seek to uniquely focus on the inherent challenges of managing pediatric populations with diabetes and discuss the similarities and differences between microvascular complications in T1D and T2D, while presenting a strong emphasis on the importance of early identification of at-risk youth. Further investigation of possible treatment mechanisms for microvascular complications in youth with T1D and T2D through dedicated pediatric outcome trials is necessary to target the brief window where early pathological vascular changes may be significantly attenuated.

Patient and caregiver perspectives on blood pressure in children with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Over 50% of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have uncontrolled hypertension, increasing their long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and progression to kidney failure. Children receiving medications or dialysis may also experience acute blood pressure fluctuations accompanied by debilitating symptoms. We aimed to describe the perspectives of children with CKD and their parental caregivers on blood pressure, to inform patient-centered care.

METHODS

Secondary thematic analysis was conducted on qualitative data from the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Children and Adolescents initiative, encompassing 16 focus groups, an international Delphi survey, and two consensus workshops. We analyzed responses from children with CKD (aged 8-21 years) and caregivers (of children aged 0-21 years) pertaining to blood pressure.

RESULTS

Overall, 120 patients and 250 caregivers from 22 countries participated. We identified five themes: invisibility and normalization (reassured by apparent normotension, absence of symptoms, expected links with CKD); confused by ambiguity (hypertension indistinguishable from cardiovascular disease, questioning need for prophylactic intervention, frustrated by inconsistent messages, struggling with technical skills in measurement); enabling monitoring and maintaining health (gauging wellbeing, preventing vascular complications); debilitating and constraining daily living (provoking anxiety and agitation, helpless and powerless, limiting life activities); and burden of medications (overwhelmed by quantity of tablets, distress from unexpected side effects).

CONCLUSIONS

For children with CKD and their caregivers, blood pressure was an important heath indicator, but uncertainty around its implications and treatment hampered management. Providing educational resources to track blood pressure, and minimizing symptoms and treatment burden, may improve outcomes in children with CKD.

KDOQI US Commentary on the 2020 ISPD Practice Recommendations for Prescribing High-Quality Goal-Directed Peritoneal Dialysis

The recently published 2020 International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) practice recommendations regarding prescription of high-quality goal-directed peritoneal dialysis differ fundamentally from previous guidelines that focused on "adequacy" of dialysis. The new ISPD publication emphasizes the need for a person-centered approach with shared decision making between the individual performing peritoneal dialysis and the clinical care team while taking a broader view of the various issues faced by that individual. Cognizant of the lack of strong evidence for the recommendations made, they are labeled as "practice points" rather than being graded numerically. This commentary presents the views of a work group convened by the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) to assess these recommendations and assist clinical providers in the United States in interpreting and implementing them. This will require changes to the current clinical paradigm, including greater resource allocation to allow for enhanced services that provide a more holistic and person-centered assessment of the quality of dialysis delivered.

[Kidney Cysts and Cystic Nephropathies in Children - A Consensus Guideline by 10 German Medical Societies]

This consensus-based guideline was developed by all relevant German pediatric medical societies. Ultrasound is the standard imaging modality for pre- and postnatal kidney cysts and should also exclude extrarenal manifestations in the abdomen and internal genital organs. MRI has selected indications. Suspicion of a cystic kidney disease should prompt consultation of a pediatric nephrologist. Prenatal management must be tailored to very different degrees of disease severity. After renal oligohydramnios, we recommend delivery in a perinatal center. Neonates should not be denied renal replacement therapy solely because of their age. Children with unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney do not require routine further imaging or nephrectomy, but long-term nephrology follow-up (as do children with uni- or bilateral kidney hypo-/dysplasia with cysts). ARPKD (autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease), nephronophthisis, Bardet-Biedl syndrome and HNF1B mutations cause relevant extrarenal disease and genetic testing is advisable. Children with tuberous sclerosis complex, tumor predisposition (e. g. von Hippel Lindau syndrome) or high risk of acquired kidney cysts should have regular ultrasounds. Even asymptomatic children of parents with ADPKD (autosomal dominant PKD) should be monitored for hypertension and proteinuria. Presymptomatic diagnostic ultrasound or genetic examination for ADPKD in minors should only be done after thorough counselling. Simple cysts are very rare in children and ADPKD in a parent should be excluded. Complex renal cysts require further investigation.

Prescribing peritoneal dialysis for high-quality care in children

Background:

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains the most widely used modality for chronic dialysis in children, particularly in younger children and in lower and middle income countries (LMICs). We present guidelines for dialysis initiation, modality selection, small solute clearance, and fluid removal in children on PD. A review of the literature and key studies that support these statements are presented.

Methods:

An extensive Medline search for all publications on PD in children was performed using predefined search criteria.

Results:

High-quality randomized trials in children are scarce and current clinical practice largely relies on data extrapolated from adult studies or drawn from observational cohort studies in children. The evidence and strength of the recommendation is GRADE-ed, but in the absence of high-quality evidence, the opinion of the authors is provided and must be carefully considered by the treating physician, and adapted to local expertise and individual patient needs as appropriate. We discuss the timing of dialysis initiation, factors to be considered when selecting a dialysis modality, the assessment and management of volume status on PD, achieving optimal small solute clearance, and the importance of preserving residual kidney function. While optimal dialysis must remain the goal for every patient, a careful discussion with fully informed patients and caregivers is important to understand the patient and family’s expectations of dialysis and reasonable adjustments to the dialysis program may be considered in accordance with a philosophy of shared decision-making.

Conclusions:

There continues to be very poor evidence in the field of chronic PD in children and these recommendations can at best serve to guide clinical decision-making. In LMICs, every effort should be made to conform to the framework of these statements, taking into account resource limitations.

Practice recommendations for the monitoring of renal function in pediatric non-renal organ transplant recipients

The management of non-renal pediatric solid organ transplant recipients has become complex over the last decade with innovations in immunosuppression and surgical techniques. Post-transplantation follow-up is essential to ensure that children have functioning allografts for as long as possible. CKD is highly prevalent in these patients, often under recognized, and has a profound impact on patient survival. These practice recommendations focus on the early detection and management of hypertension, proteinuria, and renal dysfunction in non-renal pediatric solid organ transplant recipients. We present seven practice recommendations. Renal function should be monitored regularly in organ transplant recipients, utilizing assessment of serum creatinine and cystatin C. GFR should be calculated using the new Schwartz formula. Transplant physicians should also monitor blood pressure using automated oscillometric devices and confirm repeated abnormal measures with manual blood pressure readings and ambulatory 24-h blood pressure monitoring. Proteinuria and microalbuminuria should also be assessed regularly. Referrals to a pediatric nephrologist should be made for non-renal organ transplant recipients with repeated blood pressures >95th percentile using the Fourth Task Force reference intervals, microalbumin/creatinine ratio >32.5 mg/g (3.7 mg/mmol) creatinine on repeated testing and/or GFR <90 mL/min/1.73 m(2) .

Pre-treatment considerations in childhood hypertension due to chronic kidney disease

Hypertension (HTN) develops very early in childhood chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is linked with rapid progression of kidney disease, increased morbidity and mortality hence the imperative to start anti-hypertensive medication when blood pressure (BP) is persistently > 90^th percentile for age, gender, and height in non-dialyzing hypertensive children with CKD. HTN pathomechanism in CKD is multifactorial and complexly interwoven. The patient with CKD-associated HTN needs to be carefully evaluated for co-morbidities that frequently alter the course of the disease as successful treatment of HTN in CKD goes beyond life style modification and anti-hypertensive therapy alone. Chronic anaemia, volume overload, endothelial dysfunction, arterial media calcification, and metabolic derangements like secondary hyperparathyroidism, hyperphosphataemia, and calcitriol deficiency are a few co-morbidities that may cause or worsen HTN in CKD. It is important to know if the HTN is caused or made worse by the toxic effects of medications like erythropoietin, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Poor treatment response may be due to any of these co-morbidities and medications. A satisfactory hypertensive CKD outcome, therefore, depends very much on identifying and managing these co-morbid conditions and HTN promoting medications promptly and appropriately. This review attempts to point attention to factors that may affect successful treatment of the hypertensive CKD child and how to attain the desired therapeutic BP target.