2023 Volume 11 Issue 2 Pages 37-45
There are a wide variety of causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), but all of them can be regarded as a condition in the decreasing number of nephrons, which consists of the glomerulus and tubules. CKD is risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and death, and the number of patients is increasing year by year, so that a new approach focusing on the "nephron number" is required. Nephrogenesis continues until the 36th week of gestation in utero, and no new nephrons develop following birth in full-term infants. Recent studies have reported a 13-fold difference in nephron number between individuals, and the number at birth can be a potential risk factor for CKD. The positive correlation between birth weight and total nephron number suggests that the intrauterine environment such as maternal nutritional status, micronutrients, smoking, drinking, drug use, renal dysfunction and impaired glucose tolerance has a significant influence on nephrogenesis. To prevent increasing CKD patients, based on the DOHaD, prenatal education for mothers and early intervention for low birth weight or immature kidney patients are important.
