Short-term survival of hyperammonemic neonates treated with dialysis

Pediatr Nephrol. 2015 May;30(5):839-47. doi: 10.1007/s00467-014-2945-x. Epub 2014 Sep 4.

Abstract

Background: In severe neonatal hyperammonemia, extracorporeal dialysis (ECD) provides higher ammonium clearance than peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, there are limited outcome data in relation to dialysis modality.

Methods: Data from infants with hyperammonemia secondary to inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) treated with dialysis were collected in six Italian centers and retrospectively analyzed.

Results: Forty-five neonates born between 1990 and 2011 were enrolled in the study. Of these, 23 were treated with PD and 22 with ECD (14 with continuous venovenous hemodialysis [CVVHD], 5 with continuous arteriovenous hemodialysis [CAVHD], 3 with hemodialysis [HD]). Patients treated with PD experienced a shorter duration of predialysis coma, while those treated with HD had a shorter ammonium decay time compared with all the other patients (p < 0.05). No difference in ammonium reduction rate was observed between patients treated with PD, CAVHD or CVVHD. Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase deficiency (CPS) was significantly associated with increased risk of death (OR: 9.37 [1.52-57.6], p = 0.016). Predialysis ammonium levels were significantly associated with a composite end-point of death or neurological sequelae (adjusted OR: 1.13 [1.02-1.27] per 100 μmol/l, p = 0.026). No association was found between outcome and dialysis modality.

Conclusions: In this study, a delayed ECD treatment was not superior to PD in improving the short-term outcome of neonates with hyperammonemia secondary to IEM.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperammonemia / etiology
  • Hyperammonemia / therapy*
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Metabolism, Inborn Errors / complications
  • Metabolism, Inborn Errors / therapy
  • Peritoneal Dialysis / methods
  • Renal Dialysis / methods*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Outcome