Renal (Kidneys)

This study concluded that low birth weight (LBW) and premature babies who develop nephrotic syndrome have a more rapid decline in kidney function. But they recommend larger studies are needed to fully investigate the effects of (LBW) and prematurityPreterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. More alone or in combination on kidney function in the setting of nephrotic syndrome. Click here to read more.

Hingorani, S., Gibson, K., Xie, Y., Wang, Y., Eddy, S., Hartman, J., Sampson, M., Cassol, C., Thomas, D., Gipson, D., Trachtman, H., Srivastava, T. and Reidy, K., (2023). The association of low birthweight and prematurityPreterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. More on outcomes in children and adults with nephrotic syndrome-a NEPTUNE cohort study. Pediatric nephrology

Where low birth weight, intra-uterine growth restriction, and preterm birth increase the risk of chronic kidney disease by 50–70%, the combination of all three increases it threefold. Therefore, all individuals born with at least one of these risk factors should be followed up in order to screen for kidney involvement in the early stages. Click here to read more

Hoogenboom, L., Wolfs, T., et al. (2020) PrematurityPreterm is defined as babies born alive before 37 weeks of pregnancy are completed. More, perinatal inflammatory stress, and the predisposition to develop chronic kidney disease beyond oligonephropathy. Pediatric Nephrology, 36. pg 1672-1681

This study concludes that premature and early-term birth are strong risk factors for the development of chronic kidney disease from childhood into mid-adulthood. They highlight that people born prematurely need long-term follow-up for monitoring and preventive actions to preserve renal function across the life course. Click to read the full article.

Crump C., Sundquist J., Winkleby M. and Sundquist K., 2019. Preterm birth and risk of chronic kidney disease from childhood into mid-adulthood: national cohort study. British Medical Journal, 365

This study examined kidney development and found infants born prematurely had thinner renal parenchyma (the functional tissue of the kidney). They suggest that for preterm infants this may be due to a reduced number of nephrons and compensatory hyperfiltration. Click here to read the abstract

Brennan, S., Watson, D., Rudd, D. and Kandasamy, Y., 2023. Kidney growth following preterm birth: evaluation with renal parenchyma ultrasonography. Pediatric Research, 93(5), pp. 1302–1306