BACKGROUND The pediatric peritoneal dialysis (PD) program in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Indonesia was started in 2014. However, there has been no published data on the patients’ outcome. This study was aimed to report the characteristics and outcomes of a continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) program for children. METHODS This retrospective study was conducted in Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital as a national referral hospital. Data were collected from medical records of patients aged ≤18 years with end-stage renal disease who underwent CAPD in 2014–2019. The baseline characteristics, PD-related infection rate, as well as patient and technique survivals were analyzed. RESULTS Out of 60 patients who underwent CAPD, 36 (60%) were boys on the age range of 4 months–18 years. The mean follow-up duration was 12 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 9.4–15.3) months. The number of PD related infections increased along with the growing number of patients on CAPD. The peritonitis rate was 0.42 episodes per year at risk, and the most common etiology was alpha-hemolytic Streptococcus (5/24, [20.8%]). The 1- and 3-year technique survival rates were 60.3% (95% CI = 44.5–72.9) and 43.9% (95% CI = 23.2–62.9). The 1- and 3-year patient survival rates were 69.6% (95% CI = 52.5–81.5) and 58% (95% CI = 31.2–77.5). CONCLUSIONS In this unit, CAPD could be performed in children as young as 4 months of age. The peritonitis rate was relatively low which was likely caused by skin-derived microorganisms. Both technique survival and patient survival were also relatively low.

Multiple wasp stings may cause fatal complications, such as anaphylactic reactions, intravascular hemolysis, rhabdomyolysis, acute kidney injury (AKI), increased levels of liver enzymes, clotting abnormalities, or even death. AKI-related mortality due to multiple wasp stings may reach 25%, occurring within the early onset of disease; therefore, renal function should be continuously monitored within the first few days following the stings. Herein, we report 2 cases of AKI due to multiple stings of wasp (Vespa affinis). In both cases, delayed hospital admissions and gradual loss of kidney function along with hemolysis and anemia without rhabdomyolysis were observed. Diuresis was reduced on the 10th day following the stings in the first case, whereas it occurred on the 5th day in the second case. Both cases had biopsy results of acute tubular injury and acute interstitial nephritis. The first case improved with intermittent hemodialysis, whereas the second required continuous renal replacement therapy and plasma exchange because hemolysis was more severe, which was presumably caused by a greater number of stings and larger amount of toxins involved. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was also observed in the second case; hence, high-dose steroid therapy was administered to alleviate interstitial fibrosis. Both cases showed that although AKI occurring after multiple wasp stings usually have fatal consequences. Administering fluid treatment and steroid therapy and selecting accurate renal replacement therapy modalities during the few first days after the stings may result in favorable long-term outcomes.

Iron deficiency anemia is common in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on long-term hemodialysis receiving erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. One approach to maintain the iron profile and hemoglobin levels is maintenance therapy with regular low doses of intravenous (IV) iron after initial iron repletion therapy; however, evidence for the benefits of this approach is lacking. This study evaluated the effect of IV iron maintenance therapy on anemia in children on regular hemodialysis. This retrospective cohort study included 41 pediatric ESRD patients with normal hemoglobin and iron status who underwent regular hemodialysis at the Pediatric Dialysis Unit of Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Indonesia, between January 2015 and April 2019. Among these, 21 received IV iron maintenance therapy with two doses of 2 mg/kg of IV iron sucrose every 2 weeks (the treatment group) and 20 did not (the comparison group). Changes in hemoglobin and transferrin saturation were assessed after 6 weeks of observation and compared between the two groups. There was a significant reduction in the mean hemoglobin level compared with the baseline level in the comparison group (21 g/L; 95% CI, 9.3–33 g/L; p=0.001) but not in the treatment group (0.7 g/L; 95% CI, −6.6–8 g/L; p=0.84). The risk of anemia was lower in the treatment group (relative risk = 0.42; 95% CI, 0.22–0.79; p=0.003). Although majority of the patients had high baseline ferritin level, this study indicates that in our setting, ferritin may not be a reliable parameter to review the iron status, as it can be affected by chronic inflammation. Hence, the decision to start IV iron maintenance therapy in patients with hyperferritinemia should consider the patient’s clinical condition and morbidity. To conclude, the coadministration of IV iron maintenance therapy is beneficial for maintaining hemoglobin levels and preventing anemia in children with ESRD who are undergoing regular hemodialysis, have achieved the target hemoglobin levels, and have normal iron status.