Ahmedabad: According to data from the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC), the year 2024 recorded kidney transplants in 49 patients below 18 years of age. It was the highest in the past three years. Year-on-year, it was a rise of 32%. Out of the total, 22 or 45% were from cadaver donation transplants.
Dr Pranjal Modi, director of IKDRC and vice-chancellor of Gujarat University of Transplantation Sciences (GUTS), said that keeping in mind the growing number of cases among the paediatric age group, from the next academic year they are launching a course in paediatric nephrology so that the state-based institutions can get the experts. The syllabus is decided and the entrance exam for the course will be conducted after the end of the medical semester, he added.
“This year’s theme is ‘Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect early, protect kidney health.’ Thus, the focus is on early diagnosis and intervention. From this year, we have started a genetic lab with a facility for mass spectroscopy. It will help us identify congenital disorders among children and teens. So far, such facilities were available with private labs. But such screening can help early intervention in rare disorders of the kidney and liver,” said Dr Modi.
He added that the biopsy analysis has also been improved with the use of an electron microscope.
City-based nephrologists said that they are witnessing kidney diseases which are increasingly linked with lifestyle issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, unhealthy diets, and smoking.
Snapshot of kidney diseases in patients below 18 years
Dr Pranjal Modi, director of IKDRC and vice-chancellor of Gujarat University of Transplantation Sciences (GUTS), said that keeping in mind the growing number of cases among the paediatric age group, from the next academic year they are launching a course in paediatric nephrology so that the state-based institutions can get the experts. The syllabus is decided and the entrance exam for the course will be conducted after the end of the medical semester, he added.
“This year’s theme is ‘Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect early, protect kidney health.’ Thus, the focus is on early diagnosis and intervention. From this year, we have started a genetic lab with a facility for mass spectroscopy. It will help us identify congenital disorders among children and teens. So far, such facilities were available with private labs. But such screening can help early intervention in rare disorders of the kidney and liver,” said Dr Modi.
He added that the biopsy analysis has also been improved with the use of an electron microscope.
City-based nephrologists said that they are witnessing kidney diseases which are increasingly linked with lifestyle issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, unhealthy diets, and smoking.
Snapshot of kidney diseases in patients below 18 years