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Prenatal compensatory renal growth: documentation with US
K N Glazebrook1, F P McGrath, B T Steele
1Department of Radiology, McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Radiology
|December 1, 1993
Summary
Compensatory renal growth (CRG) occurs before birth. Studies show that a single functioning kidney is significantly longer than normal in fetuses and newborns, indicating prenatal CRG.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Fetal Development
- Renal Physiology
Background:
- Compensatory renal growth (CRG) is a known phenomenon in postnatal life.
- CRG involves the enlargement of remaining kidney tissue after loss of functioning renal tissue.
- The occurrence of CRG during fetal development has not been well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether compensatory renal growth occurs during fetal life.
- To determine if fetuses with a single functioning kidney exhibit accelerated growth of that kidney.
Main Methods:
- Utilized prenatal ultrasound scans to identify fetuses with unilateral kidney conditions (multicystic dysplastic kidney or renal agenesis).
- Measured prenatal and postnatal renal lengths of the contralateral (single functioning) kidney.
- Compared measurements to control groups and established normal renal lengths for gestational age.
Main Results:
- The single functioning kidneys in study patients were significantly longer than those in control patients, both prenatally and postnatally.
- This difference was statistically significant (P = .001).
Conclusions:
- The findings provide strong evidence that compensatory renal growth occurs before birth.
- CRG is a prenatal phenomenon, demonstrating kidney plasticity early in development.