A combined ultrasonic and biochemical study of fetal renal function in the term fetus.
The fetal glomerular filtration rate of plasma (GFR) and the percentage of fetal tubular reabsorption of water were measured by means of combined ultrasonic and biochemical methods in 20 normal and 10 complicated pregnancies. The duration of pregnancy varied from 35 to 42 wk. In normal pregnancy GFR of plasma varied from 2.0 to 7.1 ml/min (mean = 4.1) and tubular reabsorption of water ranged from 84.1 to 93.0% (mean = 89.8). There was no relationship with gestational age. In the group of complicated pregnancies - apart from one anencephalic case - no apparent difference in GFR and percentage tubular reabsorption between the group of normal (greater than or equal to 10th percentile) and reduced fetal birth weight (less than 10th percentile) was observed.
D004231:Diuresis; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology*