Growth and development

Enabling achievement of full height potential in a child with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the major and most challenging goals for the paediatric nephrologist. Short stature is associated with psychological maladjustment and with increased morbidity and mortality. The causes of poor growth are multifactorial and include poor nutrition, and metabolic, haematological, and endocrine disturbances. The most vulnerable times are the periods of most rapid growth, that is, infancy and puberty. Growth during infancy is principally dependent on nutrition so many infants need supplemental enteral feeding. Growth delay correlates with severity of CKD, with those on dialysis faring the worst such that by CKD stage 5, approximately 25% of patients are below the normal range for height. Height achieved post transplant is dependent on graft function and is better in younger children and those who have the best height attainment pre transplant. The use of steroid-free immunosuppressive regimens is encouraging. The prognosis for final height is improving.