Nephrocalcinosis among children at King Hussein Medical Center : causes and outcome

Abstract EN

Nephrocalcinosis (NC) is defined as deposition of calcium crystals in the renal parenchyma and tubules.

This is a retrospective review of all the data of 63 children presented to Pediatric Nephrology Clinic at King Hussein Medical Center (KHMC) over a 15-year period with bilateral NC.

We determine their causes, clinical presentation and evaluate their growth and renal function during their follow-up.

Thirty-five (55.5 %) cases were males and 28 (44.5 %) were females.

The median (range) age at presentation was four (2–192) months.

The most common leading cause to NC was hereditary tubulopathy in 48 % followed by hyperoxaluria in 35 %.

The cause of NC remained unknown in 3 % and Vitamin D excess accounts for 5 % of the cases.

The most presenting symptom was a failure to thrive (68 %) and the second most common symptom was abdominal pain and recurrent urinary tract infection was found in 40 %, polyuria and polydipsia were found in 32 % of cases, and 16 % of cases were diagnosed incidentally.

At a median follow-up of 38 (14–200) months, estimated glomerular filtration rate had decreased from 84.0 (42–110) mL / min per 1.73 m2 body surface area to 68.2 (10–110) mL / min / 1.73 m2 body surface (P = 0.001).

This study illustrated the need for a national registry of rare renal diseases to help understand the causes of these conditions in our populations and provide support to affected patients and their families.