Summary Paediatric renal cystic disorders comprise a heterogeneous group of diseases which produce significant morbidity and mortality. The complexity of these chronic diseases in the developing child necessitates a comprehensive team approach to management involving the primary care physician, the nephrologist and other subspecialists, nursing, nutritional support, and social services. With continued advances in paediatric dialysis and in the treatment of other ESRD complications such as growth failure, renal osteodystrophy, and chronic anemia, patient prognosis has improved greatly. Further elucidation of the genetics of cystic diseases holds promise for future improvements in the diagnostic evaluation and therapy for these children.
