ESPE Abstracts

Introduction: Infants with solitary functioning kidney (SFK) may be prone to develop growth problems, which are not well represented in the literature.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate birth size and postnatal growth in infants with SFK.

Patients and Methods: We measured the weight, Weight SDS (WAZ), length SDS (LAZ), and weight for length SDS (WLZ) at birth and every 6 months for 2 years postnatally in 26 infants born with SFK, without other congenital anomalies. In addition, we recorded their blood pressure (BP), and their biochemical data including blood urea, creatinine, albumin, bicarbonate, Na, and K levels.

Results: Of the 26 infants with SFK, 19 (70%) had unilateral agenesis, 7 (30%) had Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK). At Birth (gestational age = 38.8 +/- 2 weeks) 8/26 had WLZ <-2 (underweight for length), 1/26 had LAZ <-2. At 1 year of age 6/26 had WAZ and WLZ >2 (obese) and none had LAZ <-2. At 24 months of age 5/26 had WLZ >2. WAZ and WLZ increased from -0.4 and -1.4 respectively at birth to 0.72 and 0.95 respectively at 2 years. LAZ was maintained normal from birth to 2 years (normal linear growth rate) (Table 1). Nine out of 26 infants had elevated BP at birth and 5/26 at 2 years of age. At 2 years 5/26 had high creatinine level (> 95th centile for age) and 4 of them had high BP. Macroalbuminuria was detected in 4/26, and hypoalbuminemia in 2/26. The BMI at 2 years was correlated significantly with renal length and width (r= 0.49 and r= 0.70 and respectively, p < 0.01). The LAZ at 2 years was correlated significantly with the renal length and width (r= 0.23 and r= 0.445 respectively P<0.05)

Conclusions: Infants with SFK had significantly low WLZ at birth. Postnatal growth for 2 years showed normal growth in length and catch up in WAZ and WLZ. 19.2 % of these infants were obese at 2 years of age.