End-stage renal disease due to lupus nephritis among children in the US, 1995-2006
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Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Analyses of Proteinuria, Renal Infiltration of Leukocytes, and Renal Deposition of Proteins in Lupus-prone MRL/lpr Mice
Published on: June 8, 2022
Linda T Hiraki1, Bing Lu, Steven R Alexander
1Harvard School of Public Health and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. lhiraki@hsph.harvard.edu
Insights
Predictors like age, race, insurance, and region significantly impact kidney transplant wait-listing and survival for children with lupus nephritis-related end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Outcomes vary widely based on these demographic and socioeconomic factors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Transplantation Immunology
- Renal Disease Epidemiology
Background:
- Lupus nephritis is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in children.
- Outcomes for pediatric ESRD patients, including kidney transplantation and mortality, can be influenced by various factors.
- Understanding predictors is crucial for equitable access to transplantation and improved survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of wait-listing for kidney transplantation.
- To identify predictors of receiving a kidney transplant.
- To identify predictors of mortality in children with lupus nephritis-associated ESRD.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the US Renal Data System (1995-2006) to identify children (5-18 years) with incident lupus nephritis-associated ESRD.
- Investigated demographic, clinical characteristics, causes of death, and predictors of wait-listing, transplantation, and mortality within 5 years of ESRD onset.
- Employed Cox proportional hazards models to analyze the data.
Main Results:
- Of 583 children, 49% were wait-listed, 33% received transplants, and 22% died within 5 years.
- Cardiopulmonary issues (31%) and infections (16%) were primary causes of death.
- Significant disparities observed: African American and Hispanic children, those with Medicaid, and older children had lower transplant rates. African American children faced nearly double the mortality risk compared to white children. Geographic region also influenced wait-listing and transplant rates.
Conclusions:
- Age, race, ethnicity, insurance type, and geographic region are significant predictors of kidney transplantation wait-listing, receipt, and mortality in US children with lupus nephritis-associated ESRD.
- These factors contribute to substantial variations in outcomes, highlighting potential inequities in the healthcare system.
- Further research and targeted interventions are needed to address these disparities and improve outcomes for all children with ESRD.
Objective:
To identify predictors of wait-listing for kidney transplantation, kidney transplantation, and mortality among children with lupus nephritis-associated end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Methods:
Children ages 5-18 years with new-onset lupus nephritis-associated ESRD were identified in the US Renal Data System (1995-2006). Demographic and clinical characteristics, causes of death, and predictors of wait-listing for kidney transplantation, kidney transplantation, and mortality during the first 5 years of ESRD were investigated. Cox proportional hazards models were used.
Results:
A total of 583 children had incident lupus nephritis-associated ESRD. The mean ± SD age of the patients at the time of ESRD onset was 16.2 ± 2.4 years; 49% were African American, and 24% were Hispanic. During the 5-year period after the onset of ESRD, 292 (49%) were wait-listed, 193 (33%) received a kidney transplant, and 131 (22%) died. The main causes of death were cardiopulmonary (31%) and infectious (16%). Children living in the northeast and west were more than twice as likely as children in the south to be wait-listed and were >50% more likely than children in the south to undergo transplantation. There were fewer kidney transplants among older versus younger patients (odds ratio [OR] 0.59, P = 0.009), African American versus white patients (OR 0.48, P < 0.001), Hispanic versus non-Hispanic patients (OR 0.63, P = 0.03), and those with Medicaid versus those with private insurance (OR 0.70, P = 0.03). Mortality among African American children was almost double that among white children (OR 1.83, P < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Among US children with lupus nephritis-associated ESRD, age, race, ethnicity, type of medical insurance, and geographic region were associated with significant variation in 5-year wait-listing for kidney transplantation, kidney transplantation, and mortality.
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