Age, kidney function, and risk factors associate differently with cortical and medullary volumes of the kidney.
The kidney atrophies in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) but factors influencing kidney size in normal adults are less clear. To help define this, we measured kidney volumes on contrast-enhanced computed tomographic images from 1344 potential kidney donors (aged 18-75 years). Cortical volume per body surface area progressively declined in both genders with increased age. Statistically, this was primarily dependent on the age-related decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Independent predictors of increased cortical volume per body surface area were male gender, increased GFR, increased 24-h urine albumin, current smoker, and decreased high-density lipid cholesterol. Medullary volume per body surface area increased with age in men, while it increased with age in women until the age of 50 years followed by a subsequent decline. Independent predictors of increased medullary volume per body surface area were older age, male gender, increased GFR, increased 24-h urine albumin, increased serum glucose, and decreased serum uric acid. Thus, while cortical volume declines with age along the same biological pathway as the age-related decline in GFR, albuminuria and some risk factors are actually associated with increased cortical or medullary volume among relatively healthy adults. Underlying hypertrophy or atrophy of different nephron regions may explain these findings.
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Xiangling
X
Wang
Department of Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Terri J
TJ
Vrtiska
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Ramesh T
RT
Avula
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Leah R
LR
Walters
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Harini A
HA
Chakkera
Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Walter K
WK
Kremers
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Lilach O
LO
Lerman
Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Andrew D
AD
Rule
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001830:Body Surface Area; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007672:Kidney Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007679:Kidney Medulla / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors