Examination of renal function in infants with a history of intrauterine growth restriction up to 36 weeks gestation compared to infants with normal growth

Background: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) will increase the risk of impairment of renal function in the future.

Objective: To assess renal function in infants with a history of IUGR up to 36 weeks gestation compared to infants with normal growth.

Method: Laboratory examination of urine microalbumin, urine creatinine and a cystatin C blood test were done on day 7 after birth in infants with a history of IUGR and in infants with normal growth up to 36 weeks gestation and compared.

Results: On day 7 after birth, mean urine microalbumin levels of IUGR and normal weight infants were 15.83 ± 31.32 mg/ml and 1.9 ± 0.97 mg/ml respectively (p<0.01). Mean urine creatinine levels of IUGR and normal weight infants were 17.19 ± 9.84mg/L and 8.22 ± 2.85 mg/L respectively (p<0.01). Mean albumin/creatinine ratios of IUGR and normal weight infants were 198 ± 627.63 µg/mg and 24.75 ± 14.07 µg /ml (p<0.01). Mean cystatin C levels of IUGR and normal weight infants were 1.47 ± 0.28mg/ml and 1.45 ± 0.19mg/ml respectively (p>0.05).

Conclusions: Mean urine albumin level, mean urine creatinine level and mean urine albumin/creatinine ratio of IUGR infants were significantly higher than those of normal weight infants. There was no significant difference between the mean cystatin C levels of IUGR infants and normal weight infants.

(Keywords: Renal function of infants with IUGR, microalbumin, creatinine, cystatin C)

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2017; 46(2): 152-154