Clinical practice recommendations for the care of infants with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD5).

BACKGROUND

To provide recommendations for the care of infants with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD5).

SETTING

European Paediatric Dialysis Working Group.

DATA SOURCES: Literature on clinical studies involving infants with CKD5 (end stage renal failure) and consensus discussions within the group.

RECOMMENDATIONS: There has been an important change in attitudes towards offering RRT (renal replacement therapy) to both newborns and infants as data have accumulated on their improved survival and long-term outcomes. The management of this challenging group of patients differs in a number of ways from that of older children. The authors have summarised the basic recommendations for treating infants with CKD5 in order to support the multidisciplinary teams who endeavour on this difficult task.