Nephrocalcinosis among children at king hussein medical center: Causes and outcome

Nephrocalcinosis (NC) is defined as deposition of calcium crystals in the renal parenchyma and tubules. This is a retrospective review of all the data of 63 children presented to Pediatric Nephrology Clinic at King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC) over a 15-year period with bilateral NC. We determine their causes, clinical presentation and evaluate their growth and renal function during their follow-up. Thirty-five (55.5%) cases were males and 28 (44.5%) were females. The median (range) age at presentation was four (2-192) months. The most common leading cause to NC was hereditary tubulopathy in 48% followed by hyperoxaluria in 35%. The cause of NC remained unknown in 3% and Vitamin D excess accounts for 5% of the cases. The most presenting symptom was a failure to thrive (68%) and the second most common symptom was abdominal pain and recurrent urinary tract infection was found in 40%, polyuria and polydipsia were found in 32% of cases, and 16% of cases were diagnosed incidentally. At a median follow-up of 38 (14-200) months, estimated glomerular filtration rate had decreased from 84.0 (42-110) mL/min per 1.73 m2 body surface area to 68.2 (10-110) mL/min/1.73 m2 body surface (P = 0.001). This study illustrated the need for a national registry of rare renal diseases to help understand the causes of these conditions in our populations and provide support to affected patients and their families.