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Birth Weight Is Associated With Kidney Size in Middle-Aged Women
Bjørn Steinar Lillås1,2, Tor Hatlestad Qvale1, Blazej Konrad Richter2,3,4
1Department of Medicine, Haugesund Hospital, Haugesund, Norway.
Kidney International Reports
|November 22, 2021
Summary
Low birth weight (LBW) is linked to smaller kidney size in adult women, potentially explaining reduced kidney function. This highlights the long-term impact of birth weight on kidney health.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Developmental Biology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Low birth weight (LBW) is a risk factor for kidney disease, potentially due to fewer nephrons.
- Kidney size is often used as a proxy for nephron number.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare kidney volume using MRI with measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) in adults with normal birth weight (NBW) and LBW.
- To investigate the relationship between birth weight, kidney volume, and kidney function.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to measure kidney volume in healthy adults aged 42-52.
- Measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR) was determined using plasma clearance of iohexol.
- Participants were categorized into LBW (1100-2300 g) and NBW (3500-4000 g) groups.
Main Results:
- Women with LBW had significantly smaller total kidney volume (258 ± 48 ml) compared to NBW women (302 ± 51 ml).
- Kidney volume was significantly associated with mGFR in both women (r=0.52) and men (r=0.39).
- Mediation analysis indicated that kidney volume partially explains the association between LBW and reduced mGFR in women.
Conclusions:
- Healthy adult women born with LBW have smaller kidneys than those born with NBW.
- Smaller kidney volume may be a key factor linking LBW to lower mGFR in adult women.
- This study underscores the long-term renal consequences of LBW.
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