Enlarged Kidney or Hydronephrosis Cause

Generally, kidneys become large in size due to swelling. Swelling of kidneys is known as hydronephrosis. Enlarged kidney happens when urine can not draw out from kidneys and builds up in our kidneys as a result.

 

Hydronephrosis can occur at any age. Enlarged kidneys in children can be diagnosed during infancy or before the baby is born during a prenatal ultrasound.

 

According to research, kidney diseases affect 37 million people in the US.

 

There are numerous causes of enlarged kidneys. In this article, we will discuss all the causes in detail.

Symptoms of enlarged kidney

Sometimes enlarged kidneys don’t cause symptoms. But when they occur it show following signs and symptoms:

 

• Pain in sides and back that usually travel to the groin or lower abdomen

• Urinary issues, like frequent urination or pain with while passing urine

• Fever

• Nausea and vomiting

• In infants, failure to thrive

 

Causes of enlarged kidney

Generally, urine passes from the kidney by a tube known as ureter which drains into the bladder, and then out of the body. But, sometimes urine remains inside the ureter. That’s when hydronephrosis or enlarged kidney may develop.

 

Common causes of enlarged kidney

 

Partial blockage in urinary tract

Blockages of the urinary tract generally form where the kidney meets our ureter. Rarely, blockages can occur where the ureter joins the bladder.

 

Vesicoureteral reflux

Vesicoureteral reflux occurs when urine moves backward abnormally from the kidney to the bladder. Commonly, urine flows from the kidneys down to the bladder in the ureter. Urine flowing abnormally makes it difficult for the kidney to empty properly and then kidneys become large in size.

 

The most common cause of enlarged kidney or hydronephrosis is an obstruction or blockage in some parts of the urinary tract. A lot of conditions can cause this.

 

Conditions that causes enlarged kidneys

Following are the conditions that cause enlarged kidneys:

 

• Kidney stones: stones are hard deposits madeup of calcium and oxalate. Small stones in the kidneys sometimes travel out of the kidney and then block the ureters.

 

• Urethral obstruction:obstruction in ureters leads to enlarged kidneys.

 

• Tumors: Tumors in the prostategland, bladder, uterus, and  other organs that are near or the part of the urinary tract may prevent pee or urine from flowing.

 

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia(PBH):  Enlargement of prostate gland may cause pressure on urethra.

 

• Narrowing of urinary tract: narrowing of urinary tractcan occur due to birth disorders, infections, injury, or surgery.

 

• Muscle or nerve problems: problems with muscles or nerves can affect your ureters or kidneys.

 

• Urinary retention: in urinary retention, you are unable to empty all the urine from your bladder.

 

• Utereterocele:it is the condition in which the bottom of one of the ureters swells.

 

• Injury: Injuryor birth defects causing narrowing of ureter.

 

Causes of enlarged kidneys in people with uterus issues

 Following are the causes of enlarged kidneys in people with uterus:

 

Pregnancy

While pregnant, sometimes the enlarged womb or uterus places pressure in ureters and avoids the flow of pee or urine.

 

Uterine prolapse

This condition occurs when the tissue and muscles in your pelvis weaken and sag out of its normal position.

 

Cystocele (fallen bladder)

Cystocele occurs when the wall between bladder and vagina weakens. This causes the bladder into vagina.

 

Causes of enlarged kidney in babies

• An increase in quantity of pee that fetus produces

• A blockage in flowof urine at some point in urinary tract

• A back-floe of urine or pee from the bladder to kidney

 

Diagnosis

Your doctor generally refers you to a doctor (urologist) who specializes in the conditions that affect the urinary system for the diagnosis of enlarged kidneys.

 

Tests for the diagnosis of enlarged kidneys include:

 

• A blood testis used to determine the functioning of kidney.

 

• A urine testhelps to indicate the signs of urinary stones or infections that may cause a blockage.

 

• A kidney ultrasound imaging exam,is generally used to indicate the size, shape and location of kidneys and related structures like bladder and ureters. It can also detect tumors, cysts, fluid collection, obstructions within or around the kidney.

 

• A X-ray of the urinary tractuses a special dye to highlight and monitor a tumor or kidney stone that can block the flow of urine due to which kidney becomes enlarged in size.

 

If necessary, your health care provider may recommend some additional  imaging exams, like MRI or a CT scan. Another test known as MAG3 is used to scan and determine the functioning of the kidney.

Treatment

Treatment for enlarged kidneys depends on the underlying cause. Although surgery is needed sometimes, enlarged kidney or hydronephrosis may resolve on its own in some cases like pregnancy. It can be treated by treating the underlying cause  like kidney stones, narrowing of ureter, cancer, and an enlarged prostate.

 

But if someone needs surgery or other treatments to resolve this problem. Following treatments are done by highly skilled experts:

 

• Draining of excess urine from your kidney

• Removing blockage

• Use of antibiotics to treat UTI (urinary tract infections)

• Use of medications to slow downthe excretion of uric acid

• Bladder catheter is use to drain urine

• Surgery to remove whole or a part of kidney

• Surgery to correct a defect or remove a blockage

 

If left untreated, an enlarged kidney may lead to permanent kidney damage. Rarely, it may cause renal failure. But an enlarged kidney usually affects only one kidney while other kidney may perform the work for both.

 

How can I prevent an enlarged kidney?

An underlying condition usually causes an enlarged kidney. So, the prevention depends on treating or avoiding the cause. Recognizing conditions that put you at the risk of enlarged kidney is very helpful to avoid this issue.

 

These conditions are following:

• Kidney stones

• History of cancer in urinary tract

• Past surgeries on urinary tract

• Past infections in the urinarytract, like UTIs

• Blood clots

• Enlarged prostate

• Pregnancy, due to which the uterusputs pressure on the pelvis

 

Summary

Enlarged kidney prevents the urine of a person to drain properly out of kidneys. There are a lot of causes of enlarged kidneys. Treatment of  hydronephrosis or enlarged kidneys depends on the underlying cause. If treated in early stages, enlarged kidneys will not be able to cause any long lasting medical issues. In babies, this condition can be difficult to diagnose after birth if the doctors did not discover an enlarged kidney in an ultrasound before the birth. It should be treated as soon as possible to ensure a fast recovery for both adults and babies.