[A secondary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis due to prematurity]

Both premature birth and low birth weight compromise nephron development. The lower nephron endowment is subjected to compensatory hyperfiltration that overloads the glomeruli and leads to the vicious circle of progressive deterioration of renal function.

To emphasize the risk of renal involvement in this susceptible population by describing the case of a patient with long-term follow-up.

Low-weight premature newborn, who presented at 3 years of age severe hypertension, which was controlled with different types of antihypertensive drugs. However, 10 years later subnephrotic proteinuria was detected; a renal biopsy confirmed a focal and segmental glome rulosclerosis. Despite blocking the renin-angiotensin system for 23 years, his renal function progres sively deteriorated, until requiring chronic hemodialysis during the last 3 years.

It is essential to increase the awareness of the risk of renal damage in premature and low weight newborns in order to establish management that covers from gestation to adult life and to achieve an individual and epidemiological impact on renal health.