Revista Habanera de Ciencias Médicas (Dec 2023)
Renal repercussion of low birth weight
Abstract
Introduction: Developmental programming predisposes the individual to suffer from diseases during adulthood. Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the markers of the adverse intrauterine environment. Studies indicate that adverse intrauterine and immediate postnatal influences can generate structural and functional alterations in some organs, which will manifest themselves in later stages of life. Among these diseases is high blood pressure, in which the role of the kidney is demonstrated. Objective: To systematize studies that assess the changes that occur in kidney morphology and function in individuals with low birth weight. Material and Methods: A systematic review was carried out from May to September 2022. The Virtual Regional Health Library and the PubMed and SciELO Cuba databases were consulted. Results: A total of 114 articles were recovered, of which 16 were selected taking into account the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Morphometric variables of the kidney were evaluated in 13 articles, and renal function was evaluated in 7 of them. The articles reviewed deal with research carried out under very varied experimental conditions. In most of them, it has been demonstrated that LBW causes renal morphofunctional changes. Conclusions: The number of nephrons was found to be reduced. The intensity of glomerular filtration was not found to be different for the entire renal mass, but it was increased for the isolated nephron. Early extrauterine nutrition is important. It is evident that the cause and nature of the disturbance of the maternal-fetal environment must be taken into account.
