[Hypovitaminosis D in pediatric patients on renal replacement therapy].

Background: Hypovitaminosis D has a high prevalence among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Aim: To determine the prevalence of 25 hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH) D) insufficiency and deficiency in pediatric patients on dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Material And Methods: Serum calcium and phosphorus, parathormone (PTH), alkaline phosphatases and 25 (OH)D were measured in 13 children on hemodialysis (HD), 18 on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 53 that received an allograft (Tx), aged 9.

Continuous EPO receptor activator therapy of anemia in children under peritoneal dialysis.

The short half-life of erythropoietin (rHuEPO) leads to repeated fluctuations in hemoglobin levels and the need for frequent administration. Continuous erythropoietin receptor activator (CERA) therapy has been approved for once or twice a month in adult dialysis patients. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CERA therapy in the management of anemia in pediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) stable PD children under twice-a-week EPO were converted to a subcutaneous CERA, scheduled every 2 weeks.

Intraperitoneal calcitriol in infants on peritoneal dialysis.

Background: Calcitriol has long been used as the main therapy in renal osteodystrophy, but the efficacy of the oral route is not always as high as expected.

Objective: To asses the safety and efficacy of intraperitoneal calcitriol in infants undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD).

Patients And Methods: PD patients on oral calcitriol therapy, with serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) >1000 pg/mL during the previous 3 months of treatment, were switched to intraperitoneal calcitriol therapy, 1 microg twice per week.

Early steroid withdrawal in pediatric renal transplant on newer immunosuppressive drugs.

Steroids have been a cornerstone in renal transplant immunosuppression. New immunosuppressive drugs have led to protocols using early steroid withdrawal or complete avoidance. A prospective protocol in 23 pediatric renal transplant (ages 2-14 yr) who received decreasing steroid doses stopping at day 7 post-Tx, FK, and MMF were compared with a CsA, AZT, historically matched steroid-based control group.