Glomerular dimensions in children under 16 years of age

Glomerular area, perimeter, and mean maximum glomerular diameter were assessed in post-mortem kidney tissue from 114 children who died suddenly in accidents and who were considered to have been previously healthy. One hundred glomeruli were measured from each case using a computer-based measurement system. Regression analysis was used to analyse glomerular size with respect to age, body weight, height, and body mass index. The estimated mean glomerular area for newborns was 7934 microns 2 (SE 314), increasing 8 per cent per year to 18,219 microns 2 at 15 years of age. The estimated mean maximum glomerular diameter increased from 112 microns (SE 1.9 microns) for newborns, approximately 3.6 microns per year to reach 167 microns at age 15. Glomerular size correlated better with age than with height, weight, or body mass index, and glomeruli in the inner cortex were significantly larger than those in the middle and outer cortex. Glomerular size was significantly greater in female children than in the male children over the age range examined.