title: Evaluation of kidney size in children: a pilot study of renal length as a surrogate of organ growth.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Somatic growth is an important indicator of health in children. Adequate organ growth is essential in growth and directly related to body growth. We consider renal length as a surrogate of organ growth in growing children. Measurement of weight, height, and many anthropometric indices, such as body surface area (BSA), body mass index (BMI), and Rohrer and Kaup indices, are used to evaluate growth status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between renal length and somatic parameters and analyze the affecting factors for renal size during growth.
  
  
  METHODS
  The data for renal length in 66 children (age, 12.9±15.6 months; male/female, 34/32) were obtained. Each kidney was measured with ultrasonography and dimercaptosuccinic acid scan. The data on age, sex, height, and weight were obtained from the medical records. BSA, BMI, and Rohrer and Kaup indices were calculated from measured height and weight. BSA was calculated by 2 methods, and is expressed as BSA I and BSA II.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant correlations between renal size and age, weight, height, BSA I, BSA II, and Rohrer index. In the regression analysis, the most significant contributing factor to renal growth was height (R(2)=0.636, P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Height seems to be the most important factor associated with organ growth in growing children. Further studies to evaluate adequate organ growth should be carried out.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Boo Won
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Min Kyoung
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Sochung
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Kyo Sun
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kim