title: Variables affecting adolescent renal function in patients born with vesico-ureteric reflux.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether factors in a child's perinatal history influence renal function in adolescence, using a cross-sectional study, as during the past two decades researchers have tried to ascertain whether factors such as low birth weight might be related to a decline in kidney function in adolescence, although published data for children born with vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) remain insufficient.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one children (20 boys and 41 girls), born between 1985 and 1989 in Greece and diagnosed with VUR, were assessed. A detailed personal and family history was taken and basic anthropometric variables were measured. Kidney function was calculated from serum creatinine levels, and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), fractional excretion of sodium, albumin levels in urine, creatinine clearance, cystatin C level and the dimensions of each kidney were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed a positive relationship of birth weight (P = 0.01) with blood pressure in adolescence in children diagnosed with any degree of VUR. Renal function seemed to be intact whatever the cause of VUR, the volume of the kidneys in adolescence (P = 0.386 and 0.483, respectively, for the right and left kidney) and the values of GFR (P = 0.105), creatinine clearance (P = 0.213) and cystatin C (P = 0.055).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results showed that although there is a positive association between blood pressure in adolescence and birth weight, in children born with VUR there was no deterioration in renal function. Kidneys seem to function normally regardless of the gestational age at birth.
authors.affiliation: General Paediatric Hospital 'Aglaia Kyriakou', Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tzormpatzakis
authors.affiliation: General Hospital 'Attikon', Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chrisofos
authors.affiliation: General Hospital 'Sismanogleio', Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papatsoris
authors.affiliation: General Hospital 'Sismanogleio', Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Varkarakis
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ioannis
authors.affiliation: General Hospital 'Sismanogleio', Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deliveliotis
keywords: BP, blood pressure; Birth weight; CrCl, creatinine clearance; FeNa, fractional excretion of sodium; Kidney function; Vesico-ureteric reflux