[Acute renal failure in children. Study of 35 patients]

Mihaela Munteanu1, Florentina Cucer, R Russu

  • 1Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie Gr.T. Popa Iaşi, Facultatea de Medicină, Clinica a IV-a Pediatrie.

Insights

Acute renal failure (ARF) in children is often caused by sepsis. While dialysis improves outcomes, comorbidities significantly impact prognosis, with extrarenal issues causing most deaths.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Critical Care Medicine

Context:

  • Acute renal failure (ARF) management in children has evolved significantly.
  • Retrospective analysis of 35 pediatric ARF cases over 15 years.

Purpose:

  • To analyze the etiological spectrum of ARF in children.
  • To evaluate evolutionary patterns and influencing factors of ARF.
  • To assess treatment modalities and their impact on outcomes.

Summary:

  • Sepsis (31.4%) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (17.1%) were dominant ARF etiologies.
  • Conservative treatment was used in 48.5% of cases; 51.5% required renal replacement therapy (hemodialysis 42.8%, peritoneal dialysis 8.5%).
  • Global mortality was 22.8%, but 44.44% in dialyzed patients, with deaths attributed to non-renal causes like hepatic failure, oncology, and neurological damage.

Impact:

  • ARF prognosis in children is strongly influenced by comorbid conditions.
  • Dialysis has improved therapeutic results, shifting mortality causes to extrarenal factors.
  • Understanding ARF etiology and risk factors is crucial for improving pediatric critical care.

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