Kidneys with a complete parenchymal bridge in the sinus, which is diagnostic for a duplex collecting system, were also excluded from the study. The children were between 1 month and 18 years old (mean age, 6.1 Â± 5.9 years).he objective of our study was to develop, by use of ultrasound, nomograms of renal parenchymal thickness, medullary pyramid thickness (height), renal length, and the ratio of medullary pyramid thickness to parenchymal thickness in healthy children.
erythropoietin. a glycoprotein hormone secreted by the kidney in the adult and by the liver in the fetus, which acts on stem cells of the bone marrow to stimulate red blood cell production (erythropoiesis).
Erythropoietin (EPO), a large (193 amino acid residue) glycoprotein hormone secreted by the kidney, regulates RBC production. Normally, EPO levels vary inversely with hematocrit. Hypoxia stimulates EPO release, which, in turn, stimulates bone marrow erythrocyte production. High blood levels of RBC, hemoglobin, hematocrit, or oxygen suppress the release of EPO.