Renal impairment and hypertension in brain tumor patients treated in childhood are mainly associated with cisplatin treatment

Background This study was designed to evaluate the renal consequences of the treatment of brain tumor patients diagnosed in childhood. Procedure One hundred four primary brain tumor patients diagnosed before 17 years of age from 1983 to 1997 had been treated in Tampere University Hospital, Finland. Of the 80 survivors 52 (65.0%) were examined at a median age of 14.4 years (range 3.8–28.7) and median 6.0 years (range 1.2–14.8) after the last treatment. The main outcome measures were blood pressure (BP), renal function, and calcium metabolism. Results Eight patients (15.4%) were hypertensive. Elevated BP was observed especially after exposure both to cisplatin and cranial irradiation. Spinal radiation did not increase the risk of elevated BP. Other adverse effects were observed only in patients treated with cisplatin. Five out of 14 patients treated with cisplatin evinced renal glomerular dysfunction (GFR