Chronic kidney disease mineral bone disorder in childhood and young adulthood: a ‘growing’ understanding

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) mineral and bone disorder (MBD) comprises a triad of biochemical abnormalities (of calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone and vitamin D), bone abnormalities (turnover, mineralization and growth) and extra-skeletal calcification. Mineral dysregulation leads to bone demineralization causing bone pain and an increased fracture risk compared to healthy peers. Vascular calcification, with hydroxyapatite deposition in the vessel wall, is a part of the CKD-MBD spectrum and, in turn, leads to vascular stiffness, left ventricular hypertrophy and a very high cardiovascular mortality risk. While the growing bone requires calcium, excess calcium can deposit in the vessels, such that the intake of calcium, calcium- containing medications and high calcium dialysate need to be carefully regulated. Normal physiological bone mineralization continues into the third decade of life, many years beyond the rapid growth in childhood and adolescence, implying that skeletal calcium requirements are much higher in younger people compared to the elderly. Much of the research into the link between bone (de)mineralization and vascular calcification in CKD has been performed in older adults and these data must not be extrapolated to children or younger adults. In this article, we explore the physiological changes in bone turnover and mineralization in children and young adults, the pathophysiology of mineral bone disease in CKD and a potential link between bone demineralization and vascular calcification. Graphical abstract

Safety and Efficacy of Cinacalcet in Children Aged Under 3 Years on Maintenance Dialysis

“… 9 , 10 , 11 Even with optimized treatment, insufficient MBD control is prevalent, with significant obstacle to bone strength and cardiovascular disease worsening. 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 Conversely, the number of small children requiring dialysis is increasing globally, 13 , 18 because kidney replacement therapy has been widely accepted in otherwise stable children from the first days of life onwards.…”