Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2025

Fetal Echocardiography and Pulsed-wave Doppler Ultrasound in a Rabbit Model of Intrauterine Growth Restriction
Published on: June 29, 2013
Proteinuria in preterm neonates: influence of fetal growth restriction
Arvind Sehgal1,2, Criona Levins3,4, Emma Yeomans3,4
1Monash Newborn, Monash Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia. Arvind.Sehgal@monash.edu.
Objective:
To compare proteinuria in preterm neonates with fetal growth restriction-small for gestational age (FGR-SGA) against equally preterm but appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates.
Study Design:
Prospective, observational cohort study.
Results:
Eighteen FGR-SGA neonates were compared with 18 AGA neonates (gestation; 29 ± 1 vs 29 ± 2 weeks, P = 0.8). Urine total protein (median [interquartile range]) in FGR-SGA was higher 370 [323, 573] vs 255 [193, 453] mg/L in AGA, P = 0.017 at first assessment (week one) and 565 [445, 743] vs 225 [135, 458] mg/L, P = 0.0011 at second assessment (week four). Urine protein creatinine ratio was 393 [250, 445] in FGR-SGA vs 227 [163, 367] mg/mmol in AGA, P = 0.029 at first assessment and 444 [368, 699] vs 240 [199, 411] mg/mmol, P = 0.0014 at second assessment. Mean blood pressure was higher in FGR-SGA group & directly correlated with proteinuria.
Conclusions:
Increased proteinuria in FGR-SGA suggests reduced nephron endowment and hyper-filtration.
Related Concept Videos
Overview of Protein Metabolism
Amino acids play various roles in the body once they are absorbed into cells. They are restructured...
Physiology of Urine Formation
Glomerular Filtration
The first stage in urine formation is glomerular filtration. Each kidney contains approximately 1 million nephrons, the functional units of filtration, with a...
Teratogenicity
Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Renal Impairment
One condition associated with renal failure is uremia. Uremia is characterized by impaired glomerular filtration and fluid accumulation in the body. This condition hinders the renal clearance of drugs, resulting in drug accumulation and potential...
Filtration and Urine Formation

