New Findings Extend Understanding of Nephrogenesis
Previous research indicated that nephrogenesis in preterm infants stopped within 40 days after birth. But Schuh and colleagues recently found that some preterm infants continued forming new nephrons up to 62 days after birth.
The findings suggest kidney development may continue longer than previously recognized in some infants born at 34 weeks gestation or earlier. The research also identified structural and molecular signs of stress during ongoing kidney development in these patients.
“We were able to show that some, but not all, of these babies continued forming new nephrons,” Schuh says. “That raises important questions about what factors may help or hinder healthy kidney development after preterm birth.”
Timing of Exposure May Matter
Schuh’s additional research in a preclinical model examined how nephrotoxic medications affect kidney outcomes during different developmental windows.
Her team found that exposure timing during kidney development and maturation may influence long-term kidney outcomes. In separate studies, the researchers evaluated exposures such as steroids, aminoglycosides and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
“Steroids and NSAIDs are often medically necessary, and the care neonatologists provide comes first,” Schuh acknowledges. “But if there is flexibility in timing or dosing, it’s important to think about how those exposures may impact the developing kidneys.”
