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Physiologic Differences Between Infants
Physiologic Differences Between Infants
V. Renal Function
- GFR is low at birth but rises rapidly over the first few weeks of life
and reaches adult levels by 2 years of age.Reductions in GFR are seen
with hypoxia, hypothermia or CHF.
- Newborn infants are unable to handle excessive fluid or solute loads
(which is why they typically are started on D10W at a lower rate for
the first few days of life)
- The capacity to excrete H+ increases with age
- There is a lower renal threshold for HCO3 in infants (therefore their
bicarbonate level may be lower than usual)