health
Aggressive management needed for complications of chronic kidney disease in children
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 17, 2011
Complications of chronic kidney disease, such as anemia and acidosis, occur earlier than experts once thought, says a study published in the September issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Researchers examined data on 586 children age 1 to 16 who were participating in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children study in the United States and Canada. They found that complications occur even at a glomerular filtration rate of 50 milliliters per minute in children with chronic kidney disease (link). Many experts previously thought that complications did not usually happen until a child's kidney function was much worse than a GFR of 50.
The study authors say the findings suggest the need for earlier, more aggressive management of blood pressure, anemia and other problems associated with kidney disease.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/10/17/hlbf1017.htm.
