Long-term consequences of low birth weight.

There is accumulating evidence of the impact of low birth weight in adult age. Thus, the Barker theory and Brenner hypothesis gain more power. This article reviews and analyzes the evidence that supports the intrauterine origin of chronic noncommunicable diseases in adult age, particularly systemic arterial hypertension and chronic renal insufficiency. These are possibly related to lower nephron numbers, acquired in utero or later in life, which can increase susceptibility to kidney damage from diseases such as hypertension and diabetes mellitus, or cause arterial hypertension and secondary renal damage.