Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Robot-Assisted Kidney Transplantation
Published on: July 19, 2021
Growth of children born to renal transplanted women
M Isabel S Dinelli1, Erika Ono1, Patrícia O Viana1
1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Pedro de Toledo, 781/9°andar, São Paulo, SP, 04039-032, Brazil.
Insights
Infants born to mothers with kidney transplants show high rates of prematurity and low birth weight. However, these children demonstrate significant growth catch-up by one year of age.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Transplant Medicine
- Neonatal Development
Background:
- Neonates born to renal transplant recipients are exposed to immunosuppressive drugs in utero.
- These infants face increased risks of prematurity and being small for gestational age compared to the general population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the growth trajectory of infants born to renal transplant mothers.
- To compare the growth of these infants with healthy controls during the first year of life.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 27 infants born to renal transplant mothers and 31 healthy controls.
- Weight and length measurements recorded at birth and at multiple intervals up to 12 months of age.
- Analysis of z-scores for weight and length to assess growth deviations.
Main Results:
- High rates of prematurity (51.9%) and being small for gestational age (40.7%) were observed in the transplant group at birth.
- At 6 and 12 months of age, infants in the transplant group showed comparable mean weight-for-age and length-for-age z-scores to the control group.
- No significant differences in growth parameters were noted between the groups by 12 months of age.
Conclusions:
- Despite initial growth deficits, infants born to renal transplant mothers exhibit catch-up growth during the first year.
- These findings suggest a positive long-term growth outcome for children born after maternal kidney transplantation.
Abstract:
Neonates born to transplanted mothers are exposed to immunosuppressive drugs during gestation and have a higher risk of being born prematurely and small for gestational age than the general population. We have prospectively followed up 27 children born to renal transplanted mothers from a single center and 31 healthy children born at term with adequate weight for gestational age. Comparisons of weight and length measurements were made at birth, 1 month (±0.9), 3 months (±1.0), 6 months (±1.0), 9 months (±1.5), and 12 months (±1.49) of age. There were a high rate of prematurity (51.9%) and neonates small for gestational age (40.7%) in the transplant group. At birth, in the transplant group, 28% of neonates had subnormal z-scores for weight and 40%, low z-scores for length. However, at 6 months of age, no significant differences were noticed in mean weight-for-age z-scores between groups (weight -0.43 vs -0.03; length -0.53 vs -0.08). At 12 months of age, comparable mean length-for-age z-scores were observed in both groups (weight 0.01 vs 0.27; length -0.07 vs 0.26).
Conclusion:
Despite high rates of premature births and neonates small for gestational age in the transplant group, there was a good recovery of growth during the first year.. What is Known: • Children born to renal transplanted mothers are exposed to immunosuppressive drugs during gestation [4]. • They have high risk of premature birth and fetal growth restriction, immune alterations at birth, and risk of hospitalization for infection in the first months of life [5]. What is New: • Despite high rates of premature birth and neonates small for gestational age, these infants had good growth recovery by 1 year of age.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Kidney Transplant III: Nursing Management
01:26Kidney Transplant II: Surgical Procedure
01:28Kidney Transplant I: Introduction
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
01:29Acute Kidney Injury III: Clinical Manifestations
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism