Location via proxy:   [ UP ]  
[Report a bug]   [Manage cookies]                
Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

Born too soon: lifelong kidney risks and the importance of early intervention

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 21, pages 151–152 (2025)Cite this article

Subjects

Premature birth and low birth weight disrupt kidney development substantially, which leads to an increased risk of acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and hypertension. Broader awareness of these risks, implementation of preventive strategies and optimization of neonatal care are key to safeguarding kidney health and ensuring better long-term outcomes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on SpringerLink
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

References

  1. United Nations Inter-Aency Group for Child Mortality Estimation. Levels and trends in child mortality. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) https://data.unicef.org/resources/levels-and-trends-in-child-mortality-2024/ (2024).

  2. Manley, B. J., Doyle, L. W., Davies, M. W. & Davis, P. G. Fifty years in neonatology. J. Paediatr. Child. Health 51, 118–121 (2015).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Feeney, A. et al. Approaches to neonatal acute kidney injury consultation and follow-up: results of a provider survey. J. Perinatol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41372-024-02016-z (2024).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Sutherland, M. R. & Black, M. J. The impact of intrauterine growth restriction and prematurity on nephron endowment. Nat. Rev. Nephrol. 19, 218–228 (2023).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Carpenter, J., Yarlagadda, S., VandenHeuvel, K. A., Ding, L. & Schuh, M. P. Human nephrogenesis can persist beyond 40 postnatal days in preterm infants. Kidney Int. Rep. 9, 436–450 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Jetton, J. G. et al. Incidence and outcomes of neonatal acute kidney injury (AWAKEN): a multicentre, multinational, observational cohort study. Lancet Child. Adolesc. Health 1, 184–194 (2017).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  7. Keller, G., Zimmer, G., Mall, G., Ritz, E. & Amann, K. Nephron number in patients with primary hypertension. N. Engl. J. Med. 348, 101–108 (2003).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Crump, C., Sundquist, J., Winkleby, M. A. & Sundquist, K. Preterm birth and risk of chronic kidney disease from childhood into mid-adulthood: national cohort study. BMJ 365, l1346 (2019).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Ruggajo, P. et al. Familial factors, low birth weight, and development of ESRD: a nationwide registry study. Am. J. Kidney Dis. 67, 601–608 (2016).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Luyckx, V. A. et al. A developmental approach to the prevention of hypertension and kidney disease: a report from the Low Birth Weight and Nephron Number Working Group. Lancet 390, 424–428 (2017).

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Starr, M. C. et al. Kidney health monitoring in neonatal intensive care unit graduates: a modified Delphi consensus statement. JAMA Netw. Open. 7, e2435043 (2024).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Nephrology Unit, University Hospital of Padua, Padua, Italy

    Enrico Vidal

  2. Department of Medicine (DMED), University of Udine, Udine, Italy

    Enrico Vidal

  3. Institute of Pediatric Research “Città della Speranza”, Padua, Italy

    Enrico Vidal

  4. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Department of Woman and Child Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy

    Daniele Trevisanuto

Authors
  1. Enrico Vidal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Daniele Trevisanuto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Daniele Trevisanuto.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Vidal, E., Trevisanuto, D. Born too soon: lifelong kidney risks and the importance of early intervention. Nat Rev Nephrol 21, 151–152 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-025-00932-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41581-025-00932-7

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing