Neurocognitive Functions and Psychosocial Assessment in Children with Chronic Renal Disease

Abstract

his cross sectional study was conducted on 100 subjects aged 8-18 years, 75 patients with CKD (stages 2, 3, 4 and 5) and 25 healthy controls at pediatric nephrology department, Ain Shams University. CKD patients were divided into 3 groups according to their GFR; group (A) (pre-dialysis stages 2 and 3), group B (predialysis stages 4 and 5) and group C (children on regular hemodialysis). We aimed to assess the neurocognitive functions in pediatric patients with chronic renal disease using Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT), and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Psychosocial status was assessed using Children Depression Inventory (CDI), and Children's manifest anxiety scale (CMAS). Also we aimed to detect any structural MRI brain abnormalities in these children and to identify clinical variables that may be associated with neurocognitive dysfunction such as hypertension, and anemia.