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Open Access 01-08-2011 | Original Article

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and kidney volume in the offspring: the Generation R Study

Authors: H. Rob Taal, J. J. Miranda Geelhoed, Eric A. P. Steegers, Albert Hofman, Henriette A. Moll, Maarten Lequin, Albert J. van der Heijden, Vincent W. V. Jaddoe

Published in: Pediatric Nephrology | Issue 8/2011

Abstract

An adverse fetal environment leads to smaller kidneys, with fewer nephrons, which might predispose an individual to the development of kidney disease and hypertension in adult life. In a prospective cohort study among 1,072 children followed from early fetal life onward, we examined whether maternal smoking during pregnancy, as a significant adverse fetal exposure, is associated with fetal (third trimester of pregnancy, n = 1,031) and infant kidney volume (2 years of age, n = 538) measured by ultrasound. Analyses were adjusted for various potential confounders. Among mothers who continued smoking, we observed dose-dependent associations between the number of cigarettes smoked during pregnancy and kidney volume in fetal life. Smoking less than five cigarettes per day was associated with larger fetal combined kidney volume, while smoking more than ten cigarettes per day tended to be associated with smaller fetal combined kidney volume (p for trend: 0.002). This pattern was not significant for kidney volume at the age of 2 years. Our results suggest that smoking during pregnancy might affect kidney development in fetal life with a dose-dependent relationship. Further studies are needed to assess the underlying mechanisms and whether these differences in fetal kidney volume have postnatal consequences for kidney function and blood pressure.

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Title: Maternal smoking during pregnancy and kidney volume in the offspring: the Generation R Study
Authors: H. Rob Taal
J. J. Miranda Geelhoed
Eric A. P. Steegers
Albert Hofman
Henriette A. Moll
Maarten Lequin
Albert J. van der Heijden
Vincent W. V. Jaddoe
Publication date: 01-08-2011
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Pediatric Nephrology / Issue 8/2011
Print ISSN: 0931-041X
Electronic ISSN: 1432-198X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-011-1848-3

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and kidney volume in the offspring: the Generation R Study

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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