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Continuous peritoneal dialysis for children: a decade of worldwide growth and development

S R Alexander1, M Honda

  • 1University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Dallas.

Insights

Continuous peritoneal dialysis, including continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and continuous cycler peritoneal dialysis (CCPD), has seen dramatic worldwide growth for pediatric end-stage renal disease patients. This therapy is now a leading treatment option for children awaiting kidney transplants.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Pediatric Dialysis
  • Renal Replacement Therapy

Background:

  • End-stage renal disease (ESRD) in children necessitates renal replacement therapy.
  • Continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) modalities, including CAPD and CCPD, have emerged as significant treatment options.
  • The past decade has witnessed a substantial global increase in CPD use for pediatric ESRD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the worldwide expansion of continuous peritoneal dialysis (CPD) for pediatric patients with end-stage renal disease.
  • To document the growth trends of CAPD and CCPD in various global regions over the past decade.
  • To highlight the suitability of CPD for young children and infants awaiting transplantation.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive review of existing literature and data on pediatric dialysis.
  • Analysis of trends in the adoption of CAPD and CCPD in different countries and regions.
  • Examination of the growth patterns of CPD use from before 1982 to the end of 1989.

Main Results:

  • CPD use in pediatric ESRD patients has expanded dramatically worldwide in the last decade.
  • By 1989, CAPD/CCPD accounted for 50-75% of pediatric dialysis patients in the US, Canada, and Australia/New Zealand.
  • European growth varied, with some countries showing high adoption (46-70%) and others lower (10-20%).
  • CPD use is beginning in Japan, with potential for long-term data in the future.

Conclusions:

  • Continuous peritoneal dialysis (CAPD/CCPD) is a successful and increasingly utilized renal replacement therapy for pediatric ESRD.
  • The majority of children, particularly infants and very young children, can be effectively treated with CPD while awaiting transplantation.
  • The significant global growth suggests CPD is a preferred short-term (several years) treatment modality for pediatric ESRD.

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