Neurologic manifestations in children and adolescents with chronic kidney diseases

Background and Objective: Chronic renal failure (CRF) may have many effects on nervous system and manifest as headache, seizure, dialysis disequilibrium syndrome, cerebral hemorrhage, hypertensive encephalopathy, uremic neuropathy, and some neurologic complications of transplantation. In this present study we investigate neurologic disorders in children with CRF. Methods: In this descriptive, cross sectional study, we evaluated 60 cases. Thirty normal cases compared with thirty patients with CRF admitted in nephrology ward in Aliasghar Children Hospital between April and December 2014.Two groups were matched for age and gender. Data were recorded on age, sex, causes of CRF, renal transplantation and neurologic manifestations. Results: Thirty patients had CRF and mean age was 10.86±5.25 years. Seventeen cases (56.7%) were male. Fourteen (46.7%) of cases had been transplanted. Twelve (40%) of patients had neurologic findings including seizures 7(23.4%), tension type headache 3 (10%), and developmental delay 2(6.6%). Causes of CRF were included congenital anomalies (46.6%), glomerulopathies (26.6%), tubulopathies (10%) and idiopathic cases (16.8%). Neurologic complications was significantly seen more in male patients (P=0.01).There was not significant relationship between age, causes of CRF, history of seizure in relatives, renal transplantation and neurologic findings. Two (7%) cases died of which both had seizures. In control group, neurologic findings was detected in two cases and there was significant differences between occurrence of seizure and neurologic findings in two groups (P=0.01, P=0.005). Conclusion: Some neurologic manifestations such as seizure, headache and developmental delay in patients with CRF are seen especially in childhood period. It is recommended to evaluate neurologic disorders and treated properly in these cases.