Perinatal Risk Factors and High Blood Pressure in Children with Renal Disease

Dear Sir,

Intrauterine and birth related risk factors and morbidity later on life are currently investigated in multiple studies (e.g. fetal programming). In this context the study by C. Plank et al. published in this journal deserves attention [2]. They demonstrated in a retrospective analysis of children with Henoch-Schönlein Nephritis that early weight gain during the first years of life was associated with high systolic blood pressure. Interestingly, Keijzer-Veen et al. have recently shown a correlation of premature birth in normal or small for gestational age infants and elevated systolic blood pressure at the age of 20 [1]. Hence, it might be worthwhile to investigate the relation of extreme prematurity on blood pressure in children with renal disease later on life.

P. Dahlem

References

• 1 Keijzer-Veen MG, Dülger A, Dekker FW. Very preterm birth is a risk factor for increased systolic blood pressure at a young adult age.  Pediatr Nephrol. 2010;  25 509-516
• 2 Plank C, Vasilache I, Dittrich K. Early weight gain and outcome in Henoch-Schönlein nephritis.  Klin Padiatr. 2010;  222 455-459