[Molecular weight analysis of physiological proteinuria in newborn infants (author's transl)].

The physiological protien and glycoprotein excretions in the urine samples of a larger group of newborn infants were separated according to the molecular weights by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and compared with the protein excretions of older children. We found higher proportions of albumin, of high molecular weight (MW = molecular weight greater than or equal to 150 000 dt) and of lower molecular weight (MW less than albumin 6800 dt) proteins in the first 24-h urine samples after birth. One week after birth the low molecular weight proteins predominated because there was a substantial decrease in the excretion of albumin and of high molecular weight proteins (MW greater than or equal to 150 000 dt). We compared the patterns of protein excretion of the newborn infants with those of children aged from 2 1/2 to 15 years. These urines samples showed a typical pattern of protein excretion not correlated to the age. These findings express a transitory immaturity of the glomerular filter and of the tubular protein reabsorbing system of the newborn kidney. Apparently, the tubular protein handling normalizes later than the glomerular filtration of proteins.