Reduced kidney function in very-low-birth-weight preterm infants at preschool age

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Nephrology
• Neonatal Medicine
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants face risks for adverse health outcomes.
• While neurological and cardiovascular complications are studied, long-term kidney function in VLBW infants requires further investigation.
• This study focuses on comparing kidney function in VLBW preterm and term infants at 5-6 years of age.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare kidney function between very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm children and term-born children at 5-6 years of age.
• To assess differences in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum markers, and blood pressure.
• To investigate the association between perinatal growth and kidney function in VLBW preterm children.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving comprehensive kidney function and blood pressure assessments.
• Calculation of eGFR using serum creatinine (Cr) and cystatin C (CysC) with CKiD-U25 equations.
• Monitoring of perinatal growth rates in the preterm group to explore associations with kidney function.

Main Results:

• VLBW preterm children had significantly higher serum CysC, lower eGFR-CysC, and smaller kidney length compared to term children.
• 72% of VLBW preterm children exhibited abnormal eGFR-CysC levels (<90 mL/min/1.73 m²).
• Preterm children showed higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures; however, perinatal growth did not significantly impact kidney function at preschool age.

Conclusions:

• Kidney function may be diminished in VLBW preterm children by preschool age.
• No significant effects of perinatal risk factors or growth on kidney function were observed in this cohort.
• Long-term monitoring of kidney health is essential for VLBW preterm children due to potential long-term renal impairment.