ABSTRACT
Introduction Although the kidney plays a key role in enabling the newborn infant to adapt to the postnatal physiological environment, it is immature and its ability to regulate and maintain normal homeostasis is reduced, particularly in premature neonates. A variety of different pathological insults and metabolic demands can further impair the physiological function of the kidney in this age group. As a consequence, the nephrological management of neonates differs in several important respects from the management of older children.
