Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 12, 2025

Analysis of Nephron Composition and Function in the Adult Zebrafish Kidney
08:53

Analysis of Nephron Composition and Function in the Adult Zebrafish Kidney

Published on: August 9, 2014

45.2K

Age appropriate reference intervals for eight kidney function and injury markers in infants, children and adolescents

Tamara van Donge1, Eveline Staub2, Andrew Atkinson1

  • 1Pediatric Pharmacology and Pharmacometrics, University Children's Hospital Basel (UKBB), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine
|August 8, 2020
PubMed

Insights

This study establishes age-specific reference intervals for kidney function markers in healthy children. These pediatric reference ranges aid in the early detection of drug-induced kidney injury.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Accurate interpretation of kidney function and injury markers in pediatric populations requires age-specific reference intervals.
  • Drug-induced kidney injury in infants, children, and adolescents necessitates reliable diagnostic tools.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize serum values for eight key kidney function and injury markers in a healthy pediatric cohort.
  • To establish age-appropriate reference intervals for these markers in infants, children, and adolescents.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective observational study of 142 healthy individuals aged 0-15 years.
  • Serum samples analyzed for albumin (ALB), β2-microglobulin (B2M), β-trace protein (BTP), creatinine (SCR), cystatin C (CYSC), kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and uromodulin (URO).
  • Statistical analyses including Pearson correlation and regression models to assess age, sex, and weight associations.

Main Results:

  • Albumin (ALB) and creatinine (SCR) increased with age.
  • β2-microglobulin (B2M), β-trace protein (BTP), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) decreased with age.
  • Cystatin C (CYSC) showed sex dependency and a biphasic age-related pattern; NGAL and URO lacked age dependency.

Conclusions:

  • Provides essential age-specific reference intervals for pediatric kidney function and injury markers.
  • Facilitates improved interpretation of biomarker changes in clinical practice.
  • Supports early detection of glomerular and tubular injury in pediatric patients.
Abstract

Keywords:
age-dependencykidney biomarkerkidney injurypediatricsreference intervals

More Related Videos

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts07:56

Scanning Skeletal Remains for Bone Mineral Density in Forensic Contexts

Published on: January 29, 2018

18.0K
A Large Animal Model for Acute Kidney Injury by Temporary Bilateral Renal Artery Occlusion09:02

A Large Animal Model for Acute Kidney Injury by Temporary Bilateral Renal Artery Occlusion

Published on: February 2, 2021

4.8K

Related Concept Videos

Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests01:24

Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests

Renal function tests are crucial for assessing kidney health, monitoring disease progression, and evaluating the kidneys' efficiency in waste elimination, fluid balance, and electrolyte regulation. These tests offer critical insights into kidney function, even though routine measurements may appear normal until there is a significant decline in the glomerular filtration rate or GFR. Typically, signs of kidney impairment only become evident when the GFR falls to about 50% of its normal level.
257
Acute Kidney Injury III: Clinical Manifestations01:29

Acute Kidney Injury III: Clinical Manifestations

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) progresses through distinct clinical phases: the oliguric, diuretic, and recovery phases, each marked by unique manifestations and challenges.Oliguric Phase:The oliguric phase is the initial stage of AKI, typically lasting 10 to 14 days. This phase is marked by a significant reduction in urine output, usually less than 400 mL per day, indicating decreased kidney function. Fluid retention is a prominent feature, leading to symptoms such as edema, hypertension, and...
606
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
131
Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention01:30

Acute Kidney Injury IV: Diagnostic Studies and Prevention

Accurate diagnosis and effective prevention are critical in managing Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), which is linked to high mortality rates ranging from 10% to 80%. Timely recognition of at-risk patients and careful monitoring can significantly reduce the likelihood of kidney damage.Diagnostic Assessments:The diagnostic process starts with a comprehensive medical history to identify prerenal, intrarenal, and postrenal causes.Prerenal causes, such as dehydration, hypotension, or blood loss, should...
187
Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate Based on Serum Creatinine Concentration01:28

Drug Dosing in Renal Diseases: Estimation of Glomerular Filtration Rate Based on Serum Creatinine Concentration

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) can be estimated from serum creatinine using the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula or the chronic kidney disease–epidemiology collaboration (CKD–EPI) equation. Both methods are widely used in clinical practice to assess kidney function and guide treatment decisions.The MDRD equation does not require weight or height measurements and is normalized to the body surface area of 1.73 m², considered the average adult surface area.
97
Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion01:18

Pharmacokinetics in Geriatric Patients: Effect of Age on Drug Excretion

In geriatric patients, renal physiology undergoes significant changes, including diminished renal blood flow and a lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to alterations in medication clearance. Drugs such as aminoglycoside antibiotics, lithium, and digoxin, which rely on glomerular filtration for removal from the body, particularly impact pharmacokinetics. These drugs tend to have slower clearance rates in older adults, necessitating careful dosage considerations.Evaluation of renal...
163