Atkinson MA, Roem JL, Gajjar A, et al. - In the present study, the researchers sought to describe the transition to renal replacement therapy (RRT) in children in the CKiD cohort including the prevalence of dialysis as first RRT vs preemptive kidney transplant (PKT) and graft survival. Two hundred fifty-eight children registered in CKiD initiated RRT, and 202 post-RRT initiation data were collected by telephone or in-person follow-up. Using Chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests, characteristics by first RRT modality were compared. Data reported that 61% received dialysis as first RRT modality and 39% PKT. PKT patients were less likely to have glomerular disease, and were African-American, and had higher household income. CKiD individuals undergo PKT more frequently than nationally-reported rates, and are more likely to receive a kidney transplant within 1 year of dialysis beginning. Findings suggested an association of African-American race and lower household-income with decreased access to PKT.