The spectrum of cardiovascular disease in children with predialysis chronic kidney disease.

Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality in adults and children on chronic dialysis and in adults after kidney transplantation. Cardiovascular disease burden and cardiovascular mortality are high in adults with chronic kidney disease. The early development of cardiovascular disease risk factors, some of which are modifiable, largely explain this phenomenon. Limited data are available on the prevalence of chronic kidney disease in children, the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in children with chronic kidney disease, and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in these patients. This article summarizes the current knowledge of the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and of cardiovascular disease risk factors in pediatric patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease. Long-term prospective studies are needed to determine the impact of early identification and treatment of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors on the natural history of cardiovascular disease in children with chronic kidney disease.