As kidneys continue to develop up to 36 weeks of gestation, preterm infants are often born with reduced nephron numbers and consequently sub-optimal renal performance. Detailed research has been conducted examining kidney function in preterm neonates soon after birth, but few follow up these patients past infancy. Those that have measured renal performance in childhood and early adulthood have yielded varying conclusions. Further research exploring this topic is therefore required.
Serum creatinine and albumin are markers for kidney function. This study aims to compare the titres of these substances in individuals who were born prematurely and at term at various timepoints throughout their life.
As premature birth is becoming more common in the UK and worldwide, it is important to understand its possible implications on health later in life.