Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 16, 2026

5/6 Nephrectomy Using Sharp Bipolectomy Via Midline Laparotomy in Rats
Published on: April 4, 2025
Averting the Legacy of Kidney Disease - Focus on Childhood
Julie R Ingelfinger1, Kamyar Kalantar-Zadeh2, Franz Schaefer3
1Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Los Angeles, Calif., USA; Pediatric Nephrology, Los Angeles, Calif., USA; Pediactrics, Mass General Hospital for Children at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass., USA.
Insights
Childhood kidney disease, often stemming from congenital issues, can lead to adult chronic kidney disease (CKD). Early detection and treatment are crucial for at-risk children to prevent long-term health problems.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nephrology
- Public Health
Background:
- Kidney disease in childhood presents unique challenges, differing significantly from adult presentations.
- Congenital anomalies and inherited disorders are primary causes in children, unlike glomerulopathies or diabetes-related kidney issues common in adults.
- Acute kidney injury in childhood can lead to long-term sequelae, including hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight kidney disease in childhood and its role as a precursor to adult kidney disease.
- To emphasize the importance of early detection and intervention for at-risk newborns and children.
- To advocate for equitable access to effective treatment for pediatric kidney disease globally.
Main Methods:
- Review of pediatric kidney disease epidemiology and risk factors.
- Analysis of treatment outcomes for advanced childhood CKD.
- Examination of global disparities in healthcare access for pediatric kidney patients.
Main Results:
- Congenital anomalies and inherited disorders are the leading causes of pediatric CKD.
- Premature birth and low birth weight increase the risk of developing CKD later in life.
- Children generally have better outcomes than adults with kidney replacement therapy, though it's needed by a minority.
Conclusions:
- Early identification and management of risk factors in infancy and childhood are critical for preventing adult CKD.
- Effective therapeutic options exist for advanced pediatric CKD, including dialysis and transplantation.
- Addressing healthcare access disparities is essential to ensure all children with kidney disease receive timely and effective care.
Abstract:
World Kidney Day 2016 focuses on kidney disease in childhood and the antecedents of adult kidney disease that can begin in earliest childhood. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in childhood differs from that in adults, as the largest diagnostic group among children includes congenital anomalies and inherited disorders, with glomerulopathies and kidney disease in the setting of diabetes being relatively uncommon. In addition, many children with acute kidney injury will ultimately develop sequelae that may lead to hypertension and CKD in later childhood or in adult life. Children born early or who are small-for date newborns have relatively increased risk for the development of CKD later in life. Persons with a high-risk birth and early childhood history should be watched closely in order to help detect early signs of kidney disease in time to provide effective prevention or treatment. Successful therapy is feasible for advanced CKD in childhood; there is evidence that children fare better than adults, if they receive kidney replacement therapy including dialysis and transplantation, while only a minority of children may require this ultimate intervention. Because there are disparities in access to care, effort is needed so that those children with kidney disease, wherever they live, may be treated effectively, irrespective of their geographic or economic circumstances. Our hope is that World Kidney Day will inform the general public, policy makers and caregivers about the needs and possibilities surrounding kidney disease in childhood.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction
Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
Chronic Kidney Disease IV: Nursing Management
Nephrons
Acute Kidney Injury III: Clinical Manifestations

