Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Growth and function in childhood of a normal solitary kidney from birth or from early infancy

Pediatric Nephrology volume 29, pages 249–256 (2014)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Children with a solitary kidney (SK) have an increased long-term risk of hypertension, albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis. In this study, we assessed the early signs of impaired glomerular filtration in children with a SK from birth or from early infancy.

Methods

Renal growth and function at ages 4–15.5 years were studied in 38 children with SK and 40 matched control subjects in terms of accelerated growth.

Results

The systolic/diastolic blood pressure Z-scores (p = 0.01/<0.05) and the resistance index (RI) of the arcuate arteries (p = 0.05) were higher in the children with SK. Creatinine clearance and 24-h protein and albumin urinary excretion showed no difference. All but seven children with SK had 99mTc diethylene-triamine pentaacetic acid glomerular filtration rate values of >80 ml/min/1.73 m2. An independent positive correlation was found between length of the follow-up time and 24-h albumin urinary excretion (β = 0.54, p < 0.01). Accelerated postnatal growth was positively related with kidney volume (β = 0.35, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Among our patient cohort, renal function was well preserved at ages 4–15.5 years in children who were born with a SK. However, both their higher blood pressure and RI and the correlation of 24-h albumin urinary excretion with length of follow-up time underline the need for monitoring to detect early signs of glomerular hyperfiltration and, if necessary, implement timely intervention. SK hypertrophy was found to be correlated with postnatal growth.

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

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Abbreviations

BMI:

Body mass index

BSA:

Body surface area

DBP:

Diastolic blood pressure

DTPA-GFR:

Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid-glomerular filtration rate

eGFR:

Estimated GFR

RI:

Resistance index

SCr:

Serum creatinine

SBP:

Systolic blood pressure

SGA:

Small for gestation age

SK:

Solitary kidney

VUR:

Vesicoureteral reflux

References

  1. Dinkel E, Britscho J, Dittrich M, Schulte-Wissermann H, Ertel M (1988) Renal growth in patients nephrectomized for Wilms tumour as compared to renal agenesis. Eur J Pediatr 147:54–58

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Rottenberg GT, De Bruyn R, Gordon I (1996) Sonographic standards for a single functioning kidney in children. AJR Am J Roentgenol 167:1255–1259

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. John U, Rudnik-Schöneborn S, Zerres K, Misselwitz J (1998) Kidney growth and renal function in unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney disease. Pediatr Nephrol 12:567–571

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Heymans C, Breysem L, Proesmans W (1998) Multicystic kidney dysplasia: a prospective study on the natural history of the affected and the contralateral kidney. Eur J Pediatr 156:673–675

    Google Scholar 

  5. Wilson BE, Davies P, Shah K, Wong W, Taylor CM (2003) Renal growth and inulin clearance in the radiologically normal single kidney. Pediatr Nephrol 18:1147–1151

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Wasilewska A, Zoch-Zwierz W, Jadeszko I, Porowski T, Biernacka A, Niewiarowska A, Korzeniecka-Kozerska A (2006) Assessment of serum cystatin C in children with congenital solitary kidney. Pediatr Nephrol 21:688–693

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Hostetter TH, Olson JL, Rennke HG, Venkatachalam MA, Brenner BM (1981) Hyperfiltration in remnant nephrons: a potentially adverse response to renal ablation. Am J Physiol 241:F85–F93

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Shimamura T, Morrison AB (1975) A progressive glomerulosclerosis occurring in partial five-sixths nephrectomized rats. Am J Pathol 79:95–106

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Okuda S, Motomura K, Sanai T, Onoyama K, Fujishima M (1988) High incidence of glomerular sclerosis in rats subjected to uninephrectomy at young age. Nephron 49:240–244

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Hedge S, Coulthard MG (2009) Renal agenesis and unilateral nephrectomy: what are the risks of living with a single kidney? Pediatr Nephrol 24:439–446

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Robitaille P, Mongeau JG, Lortie L, Sinnassamy P (1985) Long-term follow-up of patients who underwent unilateral nephrectomy in childhood. Lancet 1:1297–1299

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Wikstad I, Pettersson BA, Elinder G, Sökücü S, Aperia A (1986) A comparative study of size and function of the remnant kidney in patients nephrectomized in childhood for Wilms’ tumor and hydronephrosis. Acta Paediatr Scand 75:408–414

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Regazzoni BM, Genton N, Pelet J, Drukker A, Guignard JP (1998) Long-term followup of renal functional reserve capacity after unilateral nephrectomy in childhood. J Urol 160:844–848

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hedge S, Coulthard MG (2007) Follow-up of early unilateral nephrectomy for hypertension. Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 92:F305–F306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Oldrizzi L, Rugiu C, De Biase V, Maschio G (1991) The solitary kidney: a risky situation for progressive renal damage? Am J Kidney Dis 17:57–61

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Argueso LR, Ritchey ML, Boyle ET Jr, Milliner DS, Bergstralh EJ, Kramer SA (1992) Prognosis of patients with unilateral renal agenesis. Pediatr Nephrol 6:412–416

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Argueso LR, Ritchey ML, Boyle ET Jr, Milliner DS, Bergstralh EJ, Kramer SA (1992) Prognosis of children with solitary kidney after unilateral nephrectomy. J Urol 148:747–751

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Baudoin P, Provoost AP, Molenaar JC (1993) Renal function up to 50 years after unilateral nephrectomy in childhood. Am J Kidney Dis 21:603–611

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Abou Jaoudé P, Dubourg L, Bacchetta J, Berthiller J, Ranchin B, Cochat P (2011) Congenital versus acquired solitary kidney: is the difference relevant? Neprhol Dial Transplant 26:2188–2194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Westland R, Schreuder MF, Bökenkamp A, Spreeuwenberg MD, van Wijk JA (2011) Renal injury in children with a solitary functioning kidney-the KIMONO study. Nephrol Dial Transplant 26:1533–1541

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Westland R, Kurvers RA, van Wijk JA, Schreuder MF (2013) Risk factors for renal injury in children with a solitary functioning kidney. Pediatrics 131:e478–e485

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Schreuder MF, Langemeijer ME, Bökenkamp A, Delemarre-Van de Waal HA, Van Wijk JA (2008) Hypertension and microalbuminuria in children with congenital solitary kidneys. J Paediatr Child Health 44:363–368

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Dinkel E, Ertel M, Dittrich M, Peters H, Berres M, Schulte-Wissermann H (1985) Kidney size in childhood: sonographical growth charts for kidney length and volume. Pediatr Radiol 15:38–43

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Han BK, Babcock DS (1985) Sonographic measurements and appearance of normal kidneys in children. AJR Am J Roentgenol 145:611–616

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group on High Blood Pressure in Children and Adolescents (2004) The fourth report on the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of high blood pressure in children and adolescents. Pediatrics 114[2 Suppl 4th Report]:555–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Schwartz GJ, Muñoz A, Schneider MF, Mak RH, Kaskel F, Warady BA, Furth SL (2009) New equations to estimate GFR in children with CKD. J Am Soc Nephrol 20:629–637

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Chiotis D, Krikos X, Tsiftsis G, Hatzisymeon M, Dacou-Voutetakis C (2004) Body mass index and prevalence of obesity in subjects of Hellenic origin aged 0–18 years, living in the Athens area. Ann Clin Pediatr Univ Athen 51:139–154

    Google Scholar 

  28. Tanner JM, Whitehouse RH (1976) Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty. Arch Dis Child 51:170–179

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Urbina E, Alpert B, Flynn J, Hayman L, Harshfield GA, Jacobson M, Mahoney L, McCrindle B, Mietus-Snyder M, Steinberger J, Daniels S, American Heart Association Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in Youth Committee (2008) Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children and adolescents: recommendations for standard assessment: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in Youth Committee of the council on cardiovascular disease in the young and the council for high blood pressure research. Hypertension 52:433–451

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Glazebrook KN, McGrath FP, Steele BT (1993) Prenatal compensatory renal growth: documentation with US. Radiology 189:733–735

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kuzmić AC, Brkljacić B, Ivanković D, Galesić K (2000) Doppler sonographic renal resistance index in healthy children. Eur Radiol 10:1644–1648

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Quarto di Palo F, Rivolta R, Elli A, Castagnone D (1996) Relevance of resistive index ultrasonographic measurement in renal transplantation. Nephron 73:195–200

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Shokeir AA, Abubieh EA, Dawaba M, el-Azab M (2003) Resistive index of the solitary kidney: a clinical study of normal values. J Urol 170:377–379

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Nekouei S, Ahmadnia H, Abedi M, Alamolhodaee MH, Abedi MS (2012) Resistive index of the remaining kidney in allograft kidney donors. Exp Clin Transplant 10:454–457

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Wasilewska A, Zoch-Zwierz W, Michalak K (2005) Assessment of 24-hour blood pressure function of the single kidney in children with renal agenesis. Pol Merkur Lekarski 18:164–167

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Mei-Zahav M, Korzets Z, Cohen I, Kessler O, Rathaus V, Wolach B, Pomeranz A (2001) Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in children with a solitary kidney-a comparison between unilateral renal agenesis and uninephrectomy. Blood Press Monit 6:263–267

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Rogol AD, Roemmich JN, Clark PA (2002) Growth at puberty. J Adolesc Health 31:192–200

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Westland R, Abraham Y, Bökenkamp A, Stoffel-Wagner B, Schreuder MF, van Wijk JA (2013) Precision of estimating equations for GFR in children with a solitary functioning kidney: the KIMONO study. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol 8:764–772

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Itoh K (2003) Comparison of methods for determination of glomerular filtration rate: Tc-99m-DTPA renography, predicted creatinine clearance method and plasma sample method. Ann Nucl Med 17:561–565

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Drougia A, Giapros V, Hotoura E, Papadopoulou F, Argyropoulou M, Andronikou S (2009) The effects of gestational age and growth restriction on compensatory kidney growth. Nephrol Dial Transplant 24:142–148

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Ardissino G, Testa S, Daccò V, Paglialonga F, Viganò S, Felice-Civitillo C, Battaglino F, Bettinelli A, Bordugo A, Cecchetti V, De Pascale S, La Manna A, Li Volti S, Maringhini S, Montini G, Pennesi M, Peratoner L (2012) Puberty is associated with increased deterioration of renal function in patients with CKD: data from the ItalKid Project. Arch Dis Child 97:885–888

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Westland R, Schreuder MF, Ket JC, van Wijk JA (2013) Unilateral renal agenesis: a systematic review on associated anomalies and renal injury. Nephrol Dial Transplant 28:1844–1855

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Ioannina, Stavros Niarchos Avenue, 45500, Ioannina, Greece

    Ekaterini Siomou, Maria Pavlou & Antigoni Siamopoulou

  2. Department of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Vasileios Giapros

  3. Department of Radiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Frederica Papadopoulou

  4. Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece

    Andreas Fotopoulos

Authors
  1. Ekaterini Siomou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vasileios Giapros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Frederica Papadopoulou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Maria Pavlou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Andreas Fotopoulos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Antigoni Siamopoulou
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ekaterini Siomou.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Siomou, E., Giapros, V., Papadopoulou, F. et al. Growth and function in childhood of a normal solitary kidney from birth or from early infancy. Pediatr Nephrol 29, 249–256 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-013-2623-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-013-2623-4

Keywords

search

Navigation