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Effects of changing therapy on cognition of children in renal failure
R S Fennell1, E B Fennell, R L Carter
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville.
Insights
Cognitive function in children with chronic renal failure showed varied changes. While memory function improved less than in healthy peers, reaction time and vigilance showed greater gains, regardless of therapy changes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Neuropsychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Chronic renal failure (CRF) significantly impacts children's health.
- Cognitive function is a crucial aspect of development affected by CRF and its treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate how changes in therapy for pediatric chronic renal failure affect cognitive function.
- To compare cognitive performance changes between renal failure patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- 56 children with chronic renal failure were matched with healthy controls.
- Neuropsychological tests were administered every 6 months for up to four sessions.
- Renal patients were categorized into 'good change', 'bad change', or 'no change' groups based on treatment modifications.
Main Results:
- Renal subjects demonstrated less improvement in memory function compared to controls.
- Renal subjects showed greater improvement in choice reaction time and vigilance than controls.
- Children experiencing 'good change' in therapy did not show significantly better cognitive improvement than other groups.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive function in children with chronic renal failure exhibits distinct patterns of change.
- Therapy modifications in pediatric CRF may influence specific cognitive domains differently.
- Further research is needed to understand the long-term cognitive implications of CRF treatments.
Abstract:
To assess the effects of changing therapy for treatment of chronic renal failure on cognitive function, 56 renal failure children were matched to healthy control subjects. Neuropsychological tests were administered every 6 months for up to four testing sessions. The renal subjects had reduced function on medical management, were being dialyzed or had transplants. Those renal patients who changed treatment groups over the course of the study were classified as good or bad change depending upon medical criteria. Those patients who remained in the same treatment group were classified as no change. Differences in performance between last and first sessions were analyzed for each pair. Renal subjects exhibited less improvement on memory function than controls but greater improvement on choice reaction time and vigilance. Renal subjects making a good change did not exhibit significantly greater improvement than other groups on neuropsychological tests.