Long‐term renal prognosis and risk for hypertension after myeloablative therapies in survivors of childhood high‐risk neuroblastoma: A nationwide study

Background: Patients with high-risk neuroblastoma (HR NBL) treated with myeloablative regimens are reported to be at risk for cardiovascular morbidity, and this risk may be increased by impaired renal function. Procedure: Long-term renal function was assessed in a national cohort of 18 (age 22.4 ± 4.9 years) HR NBL survivors by plasma creatinine (P-Cr), urea, and cystatin C (P-Cys C) concentrations, urine albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Ambulatory blood pressure was monitored, and common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) were evaluated. Results: No significant difference in P-Cr, P-Cys C, or eGFR was found between the NBL survivors and the age- and sex-matched 20 controls. P-Cys C–based eGFR (eGFRcysc) was significantly lower than the P-Cr–based eGFRcr (97 ± 17 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs 111 ± 19 mL/min/1.73 m2, P < 0.001) among the NBL survivors. The eGFRcysc was below normal in 28%, and ACR was above normal in 22% of the NBL survivors. Abnormal blood pressure was found in 56% of the survivors, and an additional 17% were normotensive at daytime but had significant nocturnal hypertension. Both ACR and P-Cys C were associated with nighttime diastolic hypertension. Conclusions: Long-term survivors of childhood HR NBL showed signs of only mild renal dysfunction associated with diastolic hypertension. Elevated ACR and P-Cys C were the most sensitive indicators of glomerular renal dysfunction and hypertension in this patient cohort.