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Ranchin B, Schmitt CP, Warady BA, Hataya H, Jones J, Lalji R, Licht C, Mosca M, Stronach L, Vidal E, Walle JV, Shroff R. Technical requirements and devices available for long-term hemodialysis in children-mind the gap! Pediatr Nephrol 2024; 39:2579-2591. [PMID: 38141144 DOI: 10.1007/s00467-023-06233-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Children requiring long-term kidney replacement therapy are a "rare disease" cohort. While the basic technical requirements for hemodialysis (HD) are similar in children and adults, key aspects of the child's cardiovascular anatomy and hemodynamic specifications must be considered. In this article, we describe the technical requirements for long-term HD therapy for children and the devices that are currently available around the world. We highlight the characteristics and major technical shortcomings of permanent central venous catheters, dialyzers, dialysis machines, and software available to clinicians who care for children. We show that currently available HD machines are not equipped with appropriately small circuits and sensitive control mechanisms to perform safe and effective HD in the youngest patients. Manufacturers limit their liability, and health regulatory agencies permit the use of devices, only in children according to the manufacturers' pre-specified weight limitations. Although registries show that 6-23% of children starting long-term HD weigh less than 15 kg, currently, there is only one long-term HD device that is cleared for use in children weighing 10 to 15 kg and none is available and labelled for use in children weighing less than 10 kg anywhere in the world. Thus, many children are being treated "off-label" and are subject to interventions delivered by medical devices that lack pediatric safety and efficacy data. Moreover, recent improvements in dialysis technology offered to adult patients are denied to most children. We, in turn, advocate for concerted action by pediatric nephrologists, industry, and health regulatory agencies to increase the development of dedicated HD machines and equipment for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Ranchin
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France.
- Centre de référence des maladies rénales rares, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 59 boulevard Pinel, 69677, Bron Cedex, France.
| | - Claus Peter Schmitt
- Pediatric Nephrology, Center for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Bradley A Warady
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Hiroshi Hataya
- Department of Nephrology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Fuchu, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Keio University, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Joanne Jones
- Queensland Children's Hospital, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Rowena Lalji
- Centre for Kidney Disease Research, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Department of Nephrology, Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
- Metro South and Integrated Nephrology and Transplant Services, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Christoph Licht
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Nephrology and Research Institute, Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Melodie Mosca
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Lynsey Stronach
- University College London Great Ormond Street Hospital and Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Enrico Vidal
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit, Department for Woman and Child's Health, University-Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Johan Vande Walle
- Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rukshana Shroff
- University College London Great Ormond Street Hospital and Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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