Outcome of pediatric patients with end-stage renal disease in Switzerland 1973-1982.

The annual incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD: 1.32 patients aged 1/2-16 years per million population or 6.5 per million children of same age) and the causes have remained remarkably constant over the last 15 years in Switzerland. 58 patients (69%) were treated by dialysis and/or renal transplantation. The overall survival rate was 77% at 5 years and 65% at 10 years. 26 untreated patients (31%) died of uremia. They had not been treated despite existing facilities for the following reasons: Young age (7 of the 8 patients being less than 2 years old), psychosocial reasons (6), severe mental retardation (6) and associated problems (6). It is estimated that even in the future 20% of all pediatric patients with ESRD will be considered unsuitable for therapy by dialysis and renal transplantation.