Kidney Length in Normal Korean Children

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Renal length offers important information to detect or follow-up various renal diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine the kidney length of normal Korean children in relation to age, height, weight, body surface area (BSA), and body mass index (BMI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Children between 1 month and 15 years of age without urological abnormality were recruited. Children below 3rd percentile and over 97th percentile for height or weight were excluded. Both renal lengths were measured in the prone position three times and then averaged by experienced radiologists. The mean length and standard deviation for each age group was obtained, and regression equation was calculated between renal length and age, weight, height, BSA, and BMI, respectively. RESULTS: Renal length was measured in 550 children. Renal length grows rapidly until 24 month, while the growth rate is reduced thereafter. The regression equation for age is renal length (mm) = 45.953 + 1.064 x age (month, 24 months) (R2 = 0.711). The regression equation for height is renal length (mm) = 24.494 + 0.457 x height (cm) (R2 = 0.894). The regression equation for weight is renal length (mm) = 38.342 + 2.117 x weight (kg, 18 kg) (R2 = 0.651). The regression equation for BSA is renal length (mm) = 31.622 + 61.363 xBSA (m2, 0.7) (R2 = 0.715). The regression equation for BMI is renal length (mm) = 44.474 + 1.163 x BMI (R2 = 0.079). CONCLUSION: This study provides data on the normal renal length and its association with age, weight, height, BSA and BMI. The results of this study will guide the detection and follow-up of renal diseases in Korean children.