NEW YORK—Low birth weight babies have a 70-percent greater risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) in later life, according to research published in the August issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), 26 million American adults have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk. "High risk groups include those with diabetes, hypertension or a family history of kidney disease," said Dr. Kerry Willis, NKF’s senior vice president for Scientific Activities.
"Experimental studies suggest that restricted growth of a fetus in the womb can interfere with normal kidney development and result in fewer and smaller filtering units, or nephrons, at birth," said the study's lead author, Sarah L. White, MPH, of the George Institute and the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia. "Those with low birth weight may therefore be vulnerable to accelerated loss of kidney function later on as a result of any additional injuries to the kidney caused, for example, by accidents, infections or the presence of other risk factors such as diabetes."
