Abstract
From 1971 to 1993, 102 children, 1 to 15 years of age, with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) were treated in our kidney center. Hemodialysis was started in 48 patients and peritoneal dialysis in 54, among whom 6% and 39% were children under 6 years of age, respectively. Forty-four patients received renal transplantation (Tx), only three of whom received a cadaver kidney. The survival rate of the 102 children was 72% at 10 years, being 62% before 1980 and having improved to 84% after 1981. The improvement reflects the introduction of CAPD. The patient survival rate for live-related renal Tx was 88% and kidney survival was 46% at 10 years. Improvement of long-term care for children with ESRD was achieved by involving hospital staff members, as well as by advances in dialysis techniques and the use of various new drugs.
