Maturation of glomerular filtration rate in neonates and infants: an overview.

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increases progressively throughout fetal life, matures rapidly after birth according to gestational and post-menstrual age, and reaches adult values by 1-year post-natal age. GFR is considered the best marker of kidney function, and in clinical practice, estimated GFR is useful to anticipate complications, establish prognosis, and facilitate treatment decisions. This review article summarizes the maturation of glomerular filtration and the factors and conditions that modulate and impair developing glomerular filtration, and discusses the techniques available to assess GFR in neonates and infants. We focused on simple, reliable, easily available, and cheap techniques to estimate GFR, which may provide valuable information on the renal aspects of the clinical care of this group of patients.