Long-term cisplatin nephrotoxicity after childhood cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

backgroundCisplatin is a chemotherapeutic drug commonly used in the treatment of many childhood solid malignancies. It is known to cause long-term nephrotoxicity, most commonly manifesting as reduced glomerular filtration rate and hypomagnesaemia. Existing literature regarding the epidemiology of long-term nephrotoxicity in childhood cancer describes large variation in prevalence and risk factors.

objectivesThis study is to evaluate the prevalence of, and risk factors for, long-term cisplatin nephrotoxicity after treatment for childhood cancer. STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Studies were eligible for inclusion if they: (i) evaluated participants treated with cisplatin who were diagnosed with cancer < 18 years of age; (ii) investigated any author-defined measure of nephrotoxicity; and (iii) performed this evaluation 3 or more months after cisplatin cessation. Studies whose scope was broader than this were included if appropriate subgroup analysis was performed.

resultsPrevalence of reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ranged between 5.9 and 48.1%. Pooled prevalence of reduced GFR using studies with a modern consensus threshold of 90 ml/min/1.73 m LIMITATIONS: A wide range of study methodologies were noted which impeded analysis. No studies yielded data from developing health-care settings. No non-English studies were included, further limiting generalisability.

conclusionsBoth of the most common manifestations of long-term cisplatin nephrotoxicity have a prevalence of approximately a third, with increasing cumulative dose conferring increased risk of nephrotoxicity. Further work is needed to characterise the relationship between reduced GFR and hypomagnesaemia, investigate other risk factors and understand the interindividual variation in susceptibility to nephrotoxicity.