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Published on: June 29, 2013
Assessment of Renal Growth and Function in Preterm Infants at Corrected Age of 12-18 Month
Kallem Venkat Reddy1, Dinesh Pawale2, Mehul Shah3
1Department of Pediatrics, Fernandez Hospital, Hyderguda, Telangana, India. Correspondence to: Dr Venkat Reddy Kallem, Fernandez Hospital, Hyderguda, Hyderabad 500 029, Telangana, India. venkat467@gmail.com.
Insights
Preterm infants, particularly those small for gestational age (SGA), show impaired kidney growth and reduced kidney size by 12-18 months corrected age. This indicates potential long-term renal health concerns for these vulnerable neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Premature birth is associated with various health challenges.
- Infants born small for gestational age (SGA) may experience altered development.
- Kidney development and function in preterm infants require careful monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate kidney growth and function in preterm neonates.
- To compare renal parameters between appropriate for gestational age (AGA) and SGA preterm infants.
- To assess kidney size and renal function at 12-18 months corrected age.
Main Methods:
- Study included preterm neonates (<35 weeks gestation) at 12-18 months corrected age.
- Renal function assessed via serum creatinine and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR).
- Kidney size measured using ultrasonography.
Main Results:
- Mean serum creatinine was 0.39 mg/dL and mean eGFR was 109.05 mL/min/1.73 m2.
- Mean kidney lengths were approximately 54.3 mm (right) and 55.2 mm (left).
- Preterm SGA infants had significantly lower kidney length, serum creatinine, and eGFR compared to preterm AGA infants.
Conclusions:
- Preterm infants, especially SGA infants, exhibit impaired renal growth.
- Small kidney size is a notable finding in these preterm infants.
- These findings highlight potential long-term renal implications for preterm SGA neonates.
Objective:
To assess the kidney growth and function in appropriate for date and small for date (SGA) preterm neonates.
Methods:
Appropriate for date and SGA preterm neonates with gestation <35 weeks, at 12-18 months of corrected age, attending the follow-up outpatient clinic of a Tertiary care level III neonatal unit. Renal function was assessed by measuring the serum creatinine level and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) was calculated by using modified Schwartz formula. Kidney size was determined by ultrasonography using a 5 MHz sector probe with an accuracy of 1.0 mm.
Results:
The mean (SD) serum creatinine and eGFR in the 120 children enrolled were 0.39 (0.16) mg/dL and 109.05 (44.66) mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. The mean (SD) lengths of right and left kidney were 54.3 (4.9) mm and 55.2 (4.77) mm, respectively. The kidney length, serum creatinine and eGFR were significantly lower in preterm SGA infants as compared to preterm AGA infants.
Conclusion:
Preterm infants, especially SGA infants, at 12 to 18 months of corrected age have impaired renal growth with small kidney size.
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