Cardiovascular Risks of Hypertension: Lessons from Children with Chronic Kidney Disease

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Cardiovascular Research
• Biomarker Discovery

Background:

• Hypertension is a frequent complication in pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD), strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD).
• A significant proportion of children with CKD and hypertension remain undiagnosed or undertreated.
• While CVD markers are studied in adults with CKD, pediatric biomarkers are insufficiently explored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current knowledge on hypertension, cardiovascular risk factors, and potential CVD markers/biomarkers in children with pre-dialysis CKD.
• To discuss omics-related biomarkers and pathophysiological processes including endothelial dysfunction, kidney injury, oxidative stress, and inflammation relevant to pediatric CKD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on hypertension, CVD risk factors, and biomarkers in pediatric pre-dialysis CKD.
• Analysis of omics-related biomarkers and underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.
• Identification of research gaps and challenges in the field.

Main Results:

• Hypertension is prevalent and undertreated in pediatric CKD, increasing CVD risk.
• Endothelial dysfunction, kidney injury, oxidative stress, and inflammation are key pathophysiological processes linked to CVD in this population.
• Current research on pediatric CVD biomarkers in CKD is limited.

Conclusions:

• Identifying and validating CVD biomarkers is crucial for managing pediatric CKD.
• Significant challenges exist in pediatric CKD research, hindering the clinical utility of CVD biomarkers.
• Further research efforts are required to establish effective CVD biomarker strategies for pediatric CKD care.