Chronic renal failure in children: analysis of main causes and deterioration rate in 81 children.

Cause of chronic renal failure (CRF), age at clinical onset, and deterioration rate were studied in 81 unselected children 2 months to 18 years old who were referred to UM-JMH during a six-year period. Obstructive uropathies caused 42%, glomerulopathies 27%, renal hypoplasias 15%, and hereditary and vascular nephropathies 8%. Age at clinical onset of CRF was significantly lower in patients with obstructive uropathies (2.8 years) and renal hypoplasias (2.4 years) than in glomerulopathies (10.7 years). Deterioration rate correlated with cause of CRF; it was more rapid in primary glomerulopathies (4.1 years) and renal hypoplasias (4.2 years) than in obstructive uropathies (6.7 years). Within the six-year period, half the patients studied reached end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Final outcome did not seem to be modified significantly by corrective procedures. These findings suggest that major efforts should be directed toward identification of the etiopathogenesis of congenital nephropathies to prevent occurrence of CRF.