Renal Parenchymal Thickness as a Measure of Renal Growth in Low-Birth-Weight Infants versus Normal-Birth-Weight Infants

摘要

Low birth weight (LBW, <2500g) infants have a reduced number of glomeruli and nephrons and, therefore, smaller kidneys. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether renal parenchymal thickness might be a better indicator of renal growth. We carried out a pilot study over 12mo to determine whether renal parenchymal thickness could be used to detect differences in renal growth between LBW and normal birth weight (NBW, 2500-4500g) infants. Thirty-eight term infants (12 LBW and 26 NBW) underwent renal ultrasound. Parenchymal thickness, length, transverse diameter and antero-posterior diameter were measured. Mean renal parenchymal thickness was significantly lower in LBW infants than in NBW infants. Renal parenchymal thickness wasclosely correlated with an increase in renal volume (r=0.76, p<0.0001). Renal parenchymal thickness is a single measurement that could potentially be a more useful and accurate approach to monitoring renal growth in growth-restricted infants than renal volume.