Monthly Archives: June, 2020

Vitamin D is one of the main nutrients that support human health.

Researches have shown that vitamin D deficiency is closely linked to common chronic diseases, such as bone metabolic disorders, tumors, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neuropsychiatric disorders and autoimmune diseases.
In healthy people, the active form of vitamin D is produced by the kidneys, but in renal failure, the production of active vitamin D is reduced, which can lead to low levels of calcium and high levels of parathyroid hormone in the blood. Even in the early stages of chronic kidney disease the level of active vitamin D. is reduced. Its deficiency affects a number of processes in the human body and causes a significant number of pathological conditions. Vitamin D should be given according to serum calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone levels. Due to improper metabolism and losses caused by dialysis, supplements of aqueous solutions of vitamins are recommended. In patients with chronic kidney disease, especially in advanced stages, vitamin D medications (vitamin D3 and vitamin D2) are not recommended, because the reduced kidney tissue may not be able to process them in sufficient quantity as it is supposed to be.
On the other hand, the correct dosage of vitamin D helps to treat a number of diseases and improve overall health. It protects against cardiovascular disease, successfully fights depression, has antiviral function, suppresses the development of autoimmune diseases such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and helps destroy cancer cells in the body.

Some of the main causes of CKD in adults are diabetes and high blood pressure, which are not the main reasons for developing the disease in children. However, there is a tendency to increase the number of children suffering from diabetes and high blood pressure, mainly due to the problem of obesity. In addition to those already listed, being overweight significantly increases the risk of developing other serious health problems, one of which is CKD.

Chronic renal failure is defined as a clinical and laboratory syndrome that results from the irreversible loss of basic renal function.

The main reasons for the development of CKD in children are:

Congenital anomalies of the urinary system, most often up to 5 years of age
Acquired glomerulopathies – Conditions that damage the filtering units of the kidneys (glomeruli)
Urinary tract problems that block the normal flow of urine
Inherited diseases such as polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Common symptoms of CKD in children:

Swelling around the eyes, feet and ankles
Frequent headache caused by high blood pressure
Frequent urination
Growth retardation

Loss of appetite and chronic nausea
Fatigue
Anemia and pale skin

The the most accurate method for confirming pregnancy for women with confirmed renal failure is ultrasound, because of the fact that β-hCG levels can increase during this period, which in turn can lead to false positive results from pregnancy tests. The incidence of pregnancy in women on dialysis is extremely low, but the rate of successful pregnancies in this context has increased over the years

Going on dialysis before getting pregnant results in a higher live birth rate and a lower likelihood of preterm birth than conception after initiation of dialysis. Cohort data show that dialysis intensity influences outcomes for more successful births, longer gestational age and higher birth weight of the newborn. During pregnancy, women on dialysis should be monitored for low levels of potassium, phosphate and folate, as well as for high glucose, especially for patients going on peritoneal dialysis. It is also important to be monitored for anemia, to maintain a healthy diet and observe the magnesium levels. A strategy in the study of the importan of dialysis during pregnancy is the evaluation of recorded data to determine the impact of early or late initiation of dialysis in pregnancy and to observe the results focused on live birth, pregnancy survival, gestational age and weight of the newborn.

Therefore, all pregnant women on dialysis are facing a number of extremely stressful challenges. The difficulty in conceiving, maintaining a healthy pregnancy and the following care of a baby by a person struggling on his own to survive, requires enormous support from family and the loved ones.