The Impact of Mild to Moderate Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease on Neurocognitive Function: A Systematic Review

The spectrum of brain injury and the causative pathways in children with chronic kidney disease is largely unknown. We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Web of Science by combining synonyms of pediatric mild to moderate chronic kidney disease and brain lesions for the past 10 years. This resulted in 63 articles, of which 11 were finally included. The results from this study show that pediatric mild to moderate chronic kidney disease is associated with a variety of neurocognitive dysfunctions. Chronic kidney disease can experience a variety of neurologic disorders affecting the central nervous system and peripheral neuropathies. Clinical variables that can affect neurologic functioning include the severity and duration of chronic kidney disease, electrolytes, acid-base disequilibrium, hypertension, hypercoagulability, and underlying immunologic disturbances. Early diagnosis and proper management of these complications are essential for preventing long-term neurologic sequelae. Future studies are needed to understand the causative pathway better and establish whether preventive strategies and adequate management are beneficial.