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How to assess the rate of progression of chronic renal failure in children?

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Abstract

Methodology for assessing progression of chronic renal failure and performing and analysing trials has never been a favourite topic in nephrology. The aim of this paper is to discuss from a statistician's point of view the advantages and disadvantages of different direct (glomerular filtration rate, creatinine clearance, reciprocal and serum creatinine_ and indirect (need of renal replacement therapy, halving of glomerular filtration rate, doubling of serum creatinine) markers of renal function, and their statistical evaluation. The use of cross-tabulation, regression analyses/slope techniques and survival analyses for this purpose is discussed. Furthermore, a new approach for the evaluation of progression, the so-called progression charts, is described in detail. This paper reveals that analysing progression of renal failure is not an easy task. However, there are a number of pragmatic approaches which seem to be suitable.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Nephrology, University of Heidelberg, Klinikum Mannheim, 68167, Mannheim, Germany

    Norbert M. Gretz

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  1. Norbert M. Gretz
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Gretz, N.M. How to assess the rate of progression of chronic renal failure in children?. Pediatr Nephrol 8, 499–504 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00856550

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00856550

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