Pediatric dialysis and renal transplantation in Kuwait over the past 11 years

Data on end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and their renal replacement therapy (RRT) were collected retrospectively from the three dialysis centers, the pediatric urology unit, and the organ transplant center of Kuwait. The study period was from 1 January 1986 to 31 December 1996. A total of 61 children, 50 of whom were Kuwaiti nationals, required RRT for ESRD during those 11 years. This gave an average annual incidence rate of 18 per million Kuwaiti children. Glomerulonephritis was the most-frequent underlying disease and accounted for 44% of total cases, while pyelonephritis (including urinary tract anomalies and dysplastic kidneys) was responsible for 30%. Multisystem disease was responsible for ESRD in 7 patients (14%), 2 of whom had lupus nephritis, 2 vasculitis, 2 Henoch-Schönlein purpura, and 1 hemolytic uremic syndrome. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and home intermittent peritoneal dialysis, using cycler machines, were not favored dialysis techniques by most parents, especially for those