Cognitive improvement in children with CKD after transplant

Abstract

The primary purpose of this paper was to examine the cognitive functioning of children with CKD receiving transplantation to children with CKD not receiving transplantation, and a healthy control group. The sample included six children with CKD receiving transplant, 28 children with CKD being treated conservatively, and 23 healthy controls. All participants were administered intellectual (IQ) or developmental assessments at baseline and at a one-yr follow-up. Results revealed that children with CKD who had received transplant showed a significant increase in their intellectual/developmental functioning post transplant compared to children with CKD not receiving transplant. Although their overall intellectual/developmental level was not fully normalized, when compared with the healthy control group, the change scores for the transplant group reflected over a 12 point increase, moving the group from the borderline range to the low average range of functioning. In this regard, pediatric transplantation appears to have a positive impact on the intellectual and developmental functioning of children with CKD.