Renal function in full-term newborns following neonatal asphyxia. A prospective study.

A prospective study of full-term infants with neonatal asphyxia was performed to evaluate possible alterations in renal function. Twenty-one newborns with an Apgar score less than or equal to 3 at 1 minute after birth and a control group of 20 normal infants were included. Oliguria of 12 hours or more (less than 1 ml/Kg/h) during the first 24 hours after birth was considered indication for a volume challenge test and use of diuretic. The study of renal function was effected between 24 and 48 hours after birth for asphyxiated and control infants (Period I), and was repeated between 48 and 72 hours (Period II) for the asphyxiated group only. Intrinsic acute renal failure was diagnosed in two patients, one of whom died. In 10 cases, prerenal oliguria responded promptly to volume expansion with improvement of biochemical indices in Period II. In nine cases, urine volume was not altered, and all functional parameters were comparable with those of control.