Evaluation of renal glomerular and tubular functional and structural integrity in neonates

Renal cells are not fully differentiated at birth, representing a major risk in preterm infants. We evaluated glomerular and tubular functional integrity as well as structural integrity of renal tubules among healthy full-term and preterm infants as well as diseased preterm infants.

A total of 50 newborns (10 healthy full-term, 10 healthy preterm, and 30 diseased preterm, at 38.9 +/- 1.10, 34.2 +/- 0.92, and 32 +/- 2.47 weeks gestational age, respectively) were included in the present study. Glomerular function was assessed by measuring urinary levels of both microalbumin and immunoglobulin G as well as serum creatinine levels, whereas the proximal tubular function was investigated by measuring the urinary levels of both alpha1-microglobulin and beta2-microglobulin as well as retinol-binding protein. Also, distal tubular reabsorption capacity was investigated by assessing fractional excretion of sodium. Moreover, the structural integrity of renal proximal tubules was studied by measuring the urinary activities of both the brush-border membrane enzyme leucine-aminopeptidase (LAP) and the lysosomal enzyme N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase. The preceding investigations were done on both the first and third days of life of all 50 newborns.

Glomerular and tubular function and structure was relatively impaired at birth among both healthy and diseased preterm as well as healthy full-term neonates and improved rapidly thereafter. The diseased preterm neonates showed worse renal function and structure with minimal improvement regardless of the underlying sickness.

Renal insufficiency and renal immaturity could be evaluated using enzymuria and low- and high-molecular-weight proteinuria as noninvasive methods.