A 3-year survey of referral pattern and case material in pediatric nephrology

A 3-year survey of patient referrals and case material in pediatric nephrology is evaluated to provide a data base for future projection of patient needs. In the 3-year period between January 1978 to December 1980, 538 pediatric patients with renal and electrolyte disorders were evaluated and treated. The principle reasons for the referrals were: hematuria (23%), hypertension (5%), nephrotic syndrome (7%), non-acute glomerulopathies (11%), acute glomerulonephritis (3%), fluid-electrolyte disorders (29%), urinary tract infections (6%), and others. Of the 538 patients, 99 underwent percutaneous renal biopsies under ultrasound guidance. The indications and results of the renal biopsies were also reviewed. The accrual of 18 chronic dialysis patients over a 36-month period is analyzed and presented. The ages of the patients were 4 to 16 years. They weighed from 16 to 51 kg. The primary renal diseases were objective uropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis, membrano-proliferative nephritis, chronic pyelonephritis, focal glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis and others. All children, except 9 received kidney transplantations. The annual incidence of end-stage renal failure was 4 per million population.