THE PREVALENCE AND TREATMENT OF END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE IN AN ASIAN CHILD POPULATION

Background, There are significant differences in the incidence and aet iology of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) between the Asian and white a dult population in the UK. The aim of this study was to determine if s imilar differences occurred in the paediatric ESRD population. Methods , A retrospective study of children with ESRD presenting between 1980 and 1995 in the population served by the Birmingham Children's Hospita l. Results, Asian children comprised 7.4% of the total child populatio n (0-15 years). ESRD developed in 165 children (138 white, 27 Asian). The prevalence of ESRD for whites was 15 per 10(5) white child populat ion and for Asians, 40 per 10(5) Asian child population. A genetic aet iology was noted in 26 (19%) whites and 12 (44%) Asians (P<0.001). Of the 147 renal transplants, 22 (15%) were to Asian recipients. The dist ribution of blood groups in the two populations reflected the pattern in the respective general populations as a whole. There was no signifi cant difference in time to transplantation for the two groups (whites, mean 6 months, 95% confidence interval 6-11 months; Asians, mean 7 mo nths, 95% CI 4-12 months). Asian patients had significantly more misma tches (greater than or equal to 3 or greater than or equal to 4) compa red to white patients. Conclusions, Asian children had a higher preval ence of ESRD, with genetic disease predominating. Differences in ethni city or blood group did not influence time to transplantation in those that received a transplant although Asians had more mismatches.