Management of Growth in Pediatric Chronic Renal Failure: A Narrative Review

Growth impairment is a common problem in Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) children. Approximately 40% of children with CKD have a reduced final height. Growth impairment affects school attendance, duration of hospitalization, adult height, and even risk of death. 

Various studies have shown that patients with moderate to severe growth failure have higher mortality rates (three folds) than those with normal growth. This narrative review aimed to define the management of growth in pediatric chronic renal failure.

This study was conducted through a literature search with the keywords of chronic renal failure, kidney transplant, Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) combined with growth, short stature, and growth hormone using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences, Cochrane, and Embase databases.

Growth impairment in children with CKD occurs due to diverse etiologies, such as uremia, anemia, metabolic acidosis, etc. It becomes more prominent in GFR<75 ml/min/1.73 m2. Growth hormone (GH) therapy seems to be a safe and effective therapeutic modality consequent to the correction of associated metabolic disturbances.

This study indicated that pretransplant GH therapy in children with CKD and its temporary discontinuation at kidney transplantation up to one year after transplantation leads to improved growth velocity. Therefore, it seems that considering GH therapy in children with CKD is mandatory.