Etiology of chronic kidney disease: fifty-year experience (1960-2010) at the Pediatric Ne¬phrology Service, Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl (Medellín, Colombia)

Abstract

Chronic renal failure (CRF) results from progressive and irreversible deterioration of kidney function; it manifests as the inability to remove waste products and to maintain acid-base balance. The objectives of this study were to identify the diseases responsible for CRF in our patients and their relative importance in such outcome. A descriptive retrospective study was carried out, based on the review of the charts of 367 children with the diagnosis of CRF treated at the Pediatric Nephrology Service (Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl, Medellín, Colombia) between 01 January 1960 and August 30, 2010. One hundred and ninety nine patients (54,2%) were males, and 168 (45,8), females. The predominant diseases as cause of CRF were: vesico-ureteral reflux (37.1%), hydronephrosis (24.0%), posterior urethral valves (13.4%), acute glomerulonephritis (12.3%), nephrotic syndrome (11.2%), and kidney hypoplasia (9.3%).