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Am J Perinatol 2013; 30(06): 477-482
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1326993
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Relationship between the Retinal Microvasculature and Renal Volume in Low-Birth-Weight Babies

Yogavijayan Kandasamy
1   Department of Neonatology, The Townsville Hospital, Queensland, Australia
,
Roger Smith
2   Mother and Babies' Research Centre, University of Newcastle, John Hunter Hospital, New South Wales, Australia
,
Ian M.R. Wright
2   Mother and Babies' Research Centre, University of Newcastle, John Hunter Hospital, New South Wales, Australia
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

19 May 2012

08 June 2012

Publication Date:
21 September 2012 (online)

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Abstract

Objective We performed a study to assess whether the development of the retinal microvasculature reflects nephron growth and therefore nephron number.

Study Design In our study, we determined the association between kidney volume (nephron number) and the retinal microvasculature of term low-birth-weight (LBW) and normal-birth-weight (NBW) infants (11 LBW and 27 NBW).

Results LBW infants had significantly larger retinal arteriolar and venular diameters (104.2 ± 21.4 versus 87.0 ± 12.7 μm; p = 0.004; 146.8 ± 19.5 versus 128.0 ± 19.5 μm; p = 0.01, respectively) compared with NBW infants. LBW infants also had smaller mean renal volumes (9.3 ± 2.3 versus 12.2 ± 3.1 ml; p = 0.008). There were negative correlations between retinal arteriolar and venular diameters and renal volumes (r = −0.34, p < 0.05; r = −0.37, p < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion The larger the kidney (and, by implication, the greater the nephron number), the smaller are the diameters of retinal arterioles and venules. Thus, the degree of dilation of the retinal microvasculature provides an indirect index of renal growth.

Keywords

retinal vessels - renal volume - neonate - low birth weight
 

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