High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children with chronic kidney disease and kidney transplant.

INTRODUCTION Vitamin D (25(OH)D) deficiency is common among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our objective was to establish the prevalence of 25(OH)D deficiency among children with CKD and identify risk factors. A correlation was observed between 25(OH)D and parathormone intact molecule. POPULATION AND METHODS Cross-sectional study conducted between January 2013 and December 2015. Patients younger than 19 years old with and without CKD were included. RESULTS One hundred and sixty-seven patients were included. Group 1 (healthy controls): 32 participants; group 2 (stage 2-4 CKD, glomerular filtration rate between 89 and 15 mL/min/1.73 m2): 34 patients; group 3 (stage 5 CKD, dialysis): 46 patients; and group 4 (kidney transplant recipients): 55 patients. Deficiency of 25(OH)D was detected in 12.5% of healthy controls and 32% of CKD patients (p= 0.025). Also, 23% of patients in group 2, 51% in group 3, and 22% in group 4 had 25(OH)D deficiency; the mean 25(OH)D level of dialysis patients was significantly lower than that of the rest of the groups. Predictors of 25(OH)D deficiency included hypoalbuminemia, advanced CKD, and place of origin from the Northwest region of Argentina. The parathormone intact molecule was significantly higher in the group of patients with deficiency and was inversely correlated with 25(OH)D levels. CONCLUSION Among CKD patients, 32% had 25(OH)D deficiency, which reached 51% among those with stage 5 CKD (dialysis). Predictors of deficiency included hypoalbuminemia, advanced CKD, and place of origin from the Northwest region of Argentina.