Chronic kidney disease in the neonate: etiologies, management, and outcomes

Neonatal chronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs with an estimated incidence of 1 in 10,000 live births, whereas the incidence of neonatal end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is about 7.1 per million age-related population. The most frequent etiologies are renal hypoplasia/dysplasia, posterior urethral valves, and other congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract. Other etiologies include polycystic kidney disease, cortical necrosis, and renal vascular thrombosis. Management of CKD focuses primarily on replacing renal functions such as erythropoietin, 1,25-hydroxylation of vitamin D, electrolyte homeostasis/excretion, and, in ESRD, waste product removal. Nutrition and growth monitoring are of utmost importance, with the majority of ESRD infants requiring gastrostomy tube for nutrition. Outcomes of neonates (<31 days) started on dialysis continue to improve, with large cohort studies showing 2-3-year survival rates of 79-81%. As in other neonatal disciplines, the gestational age and size limits for safe provision of dialysis continue to decrease.