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. 2025 Apr 19.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-025-02306-0. Online ahead of print.

Proteinuria in preterm neonates: influence of fetal growth restriction

Arvind Sehgal  1   2 , Criona Levins #  3   4 , Emma Yeomans #  3   4 , Zhong Lu  5 , David Metz  4   6
Affiliations

Proteinuria in preterm neonates: influence of fetal growth restriction

Arvind Sehgal et al. J Perinatol. .

Abstract

Objective: To compare proteinuria in preterm neonates with fetal growth restriction-small for gestational age (FGR-SGA) against equally preterm but appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates.

Study design: Prospective, observational cohort study.

Results: Eighteen FGR-SGA neonates were compared with 18 AGA neonates (gestation; 29 ± 1 vs 29 ± 2 weeks, P = 0.8). Urine total protein (median [interquartile range]) in FGR-SGA was higher 370 [323, 573] vs 255 [193, 453] mg/L in AGA, P = 0.017 at first assessment (week one) and 565 [445, 743] vs 225 [135, 458] mg/L, P = 0.0011 at second assessment (week four). Urine protein creatinine ratio was 393 [250, 445] in FGR-SGA vs 227 [163, 367] mg/mmol in AGA, P = 0.029 at first assessment and 444 [368, 699] vs 240 [199, 411] mg/mmol, P = 0.0014 at second assessment. Mean blood pressure was higher in FGR-SGA group & directly correlated with proteinuria.

Conclusions: Increased proteinuria in FGR-SGA suggests reduced nephron endowment and hyper-filtration.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics approval and consent to participate: All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. The study was approved by Monash Health Research Ethics Committee (RES-0000117), and informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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