Kidney Transplantation in Children: The Preferred Option But Still No Cure

Comparison of parameters of chronic kidney disease following paediatric preemptive versus non-preemptive renal transplantation

PRT is the preferred modality for renal replacement therapy in children. Despite this, there are no studies CKD parameters as per K/DOQI criteria between PRT and NPRT in children. This was a single-centre cross-sectional study of RTR with at least one yr of post-transplant follow-up. CKD parameters as per K/DOQI were compared between PRT and NPRT. Thirty percent (39/129) of our study population was PRT. Despite similar baseline characteristics at the time of transplantation and similar post-transplantation follow-up period, a significantly lower proportion of PRT (1, 2%) were in Stage 4 CKD in contrast to NPRT (14, 16%); p = 0.03. This was also reflected in better CKD parameters among PRT with significantly lower incidences of hypertension and acidosis (p = 0.02). CKD medications were also more commonly prescribed in NPRT (p = 0.002). We demonstrated improved CKD parameters and lower use of CKD medications among PRT when compared with NPRT. This finding should act as an added impetus for PRT programmes.