Dialysis in newborns and infants is a very challenging field in pediatric nephrology and still associated with high mortality. This article is designed for pediatricians who advise parents of newborns with
renal failure. It aims to provide information about the difficulties during the period of dialysis and outcome after successful
transplantation. We report upon five patients who proceeded to
end-stage renal failure within the first year of life. All patients received
peritoneal dialysis; however, two had to be switched to
hemodialysis for several months. Four patients received percutaneous endoscopic gastric tubes (PEG) to enable high caloric diet. At the age of 1.5 to 5 years all children were successfully transplanted achieving good renal function. With regard to severe complications, hospitalisation time and somatic development all patients showed a substantial improvement after
renal transplantation. Growth velocity increased to above SDS +2 after
transplantation and all children reached the milestones of development in due time. In conclusion, after
renal replacement therapy is initialised in infants with
end-stage renal failure, sufficient nutrition to improve
weight gain and to achieve the earliest possible
transplantation is mandatory. Early
transplantation results in a catch-up of developmental delay in short time.