[What about the long-term renal outcome of premature babies?]

Abstract

Long-term renal prognosis of expreterm children remains uncertain. The fetal programming theory partially explains adult-onset hypertension, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk in populations of small for gestational age infants. Further studies about long-term renal outcome are warranted because there is a reduction of nephron number in animal models of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). An early prevention focused on cardiovascular risks, nutritional mistakes and obesity must be scheduled in populations of expreterm children and IUGR. Since long-term renal outcome is not well known, it may be interesting to perform a regular follow-up of renal parameters (for example: blood pressure, serum creatinine and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio) and to refer children when abnormalities are highlighted.