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Nephrogenesis, Renal Function, and Biomarkers in Preterm Newborns
Luísa Petri Corrêa1, Felipe Rodrigues Gatto1, Guilherme Yanq Sen Bressani1
1Laboratory of Medical Investigation, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Current Medicinal Chemistry
|November 1, 2021
Summary
Premature newborns have underdeveloped kidneys, increasing their risk of acute kidney injury. Current biomarkers are inadequate, necessitating research into better diagnostic tools for these vulnerable infants.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal physiology and nephrology.
- Pediatric critical care medicine.
Background:
- Advances in neonatal care have improved survival rates for premature infants.
- Immature kidneys in preterm newborns are susceptible to acute kidney injury (AKI), with potential long-term consequences.
- Current AKI diagnostic parameters, like serum creatinine, are limited in preterm populations due to factors like muscle mass and gestational age.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current evidence on nephrogenesis, renal function, and AKI in neonatology.
- To explore renal function biomarkers for diagnosis, follow-up, and prognosis in preterm newborns.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on nephrogenesis, renal function, and AKI in preterm neonates.
- Analysis of existing research on renal function biomarkers, including cystatin C, NGAL, and KIM-1.
Main Results:
- Preterm newborns are born with a reduced number and quality of nephrons, leading to impaired glomerular filtration and tubular function.
- AKI is underdiagnosed and poorly managed in preterm infants due to a lack of sensitive and specific biomarkers.
- Promising urinary markers like cystatin C, NGAL, and KIM-1 show inconsistent results in current literature.
Conclusions:
- Standardized and specific urinary biomarkers are crucial for accurately assessing kidney function in preterm newborns.
- Further research is required to identify and validate reliable biomarkers for AKI diagnosis and management in this population.
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