DEVELOPMENT OF GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE AND EXCRETION OF β2‐MICROGLOBULIN IN NEONATES DURING GENTAMICIN TREATMENT

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Abstract
Infants [10] of different gestational ages (GA) and postnatal ages (PNA), treated with gentamicin [an antibiotic], were compared with 10 control patients of similar GA and PNA to evaluate the possible nephrotoxic effects of this drug. Changes in the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the fractional excretion of .beta.2-microglobulin in urine (FE.beta.) were used as indicators of renal dysfunction. In the control infants there was a postnatal increase in the GFR that was higher in full-term than in preterm infants. The FE.beta. decreased logarithmically as a function of both the GA and the PNA. The GFR was statistically lower in 5/10 and 6/10 of the patients on the 1st and the last days of gentamicin treatment (GT) respectively. Three wk after GT, 8/10 had a normal GFR. The FE.beta. was statistically higher in 4/10 of the patients on their 1st day of GT and 7/10 on their last day of GT. Three wk after GT, 9/10 of the patients had a normal FE.beta. for their postnatal and gestational ages. Evidently GT influences filtration and proximal reabsorption in GT infants by decreasing the GFR and increasing the FE.beta.. The observed renal dysfunction seemed reversible.