Perinatal (fetal or neonatal) growth restriction or preterm birth therefore impairs glomerulogenesis [Sutherland et al., Abitbol et al., Barker et al., Faa et al., Gubhaju et al., Zaffanello et al.]. Other cardiovascular abnormalities following from premature birth in later life include decreased heart rate variability [Rakow et al.], endothelial dysfunction [Norman et al.] and hypertension [Abitbol et al., Keijzer-Veen et al.].