Atrophic Kidney

[Unregistered]

My left Kidney is atrophic and my nephrologist said they dont need to remove it it will "die off" on it's own. In my renal scan we saw it would fill up but never drain and when it fills it causes me pain. Is this normal to not remove a kidney that fills and doesnt drain? It just seems like this is unhealthy that this kidney fills up but what happens after that? where does it go? I hope someone can shed some light. thanks

[DoriSchatell]

Usually an atrophic kidney will shrink over time. Since it doesn't work, eventually the blood vessels that allow blood into the kidney to be filtered will shrink as well, so it won't fill up any more. Then it won't hurt.

Do you have any idea why the kidney is atrophic? One long-term follow-up study of 74 people who had an atrophic kidney due to high blood pressure found that removing the kidney could help improve blood pressure control without causing any more loss of kidney function. In case your doctor hasn't seen this, here is the reference: Revisiting the role of nephrectomy for advanced renovascular disease The American Journal of Medicine, Volume 114, Issue 9, 15 June 2003, Pages 729-735 Garvan C. Kane MB, BCh, Stephen C. Textor MD, Alexander Schirger MD, and Vesna D. Garovic MD.

[Unregistered]

He dx me with MSK and he thinks there may have been a reflux. I don't have high blood pressure or diabetes but I do have anemia. My blood pressure is usually around 90-100/65-75 my right kidney looked like a blob on the renal scan but they said that was because of the other one not functioning. I wonder if the other kidney will lose function as well, what can I do to preserve that kidney. I have gotten 1 UTI since the dx and I was dx in June. How can I prevent UTI's as well? thank you SOOOOO much for your reply. I am trying to learn as much as I can about this.

[DoriSchatell]

Has your level of kidney filtering (GFR) been checked, or do you know what your creatinine level is? The anemia is a bit concerning, but anemia can be caused by a number of things. It's great that you don't have high blood pressure.

Urinary tract infections can be prevented (at least in part) by:
-- Drinking plenty of fluids (including cranberry juice, if you like it)
-- Wiping from front to back after you use the bathroom
-- Urinating immediately after receiving oral sex or having intercourse

If you've forgotten to do one of the above, some people believe that cranberry pills can help keep bacteria from sticking to the walls of the bladder, and that might be worth asking your doctor about.

Here are some threads in these boards about MSK that can help you learn more:
-- http://www.lifeoptions.org/boards/showthread.php?t=147&highlight=medullary+sponge+kidney
--http://www.lifeoptions.org/boards/showthread.php?t=148&highlight=medullary+sponge+kidney
--http://www.lifeoptions.org/boards/showthread.php?t=190&highlight=medullary+sponge+kidney

[Unregistered]

my creatine level is 1 and I am not sure if the 70 was a GFR or a percentage of function, or if that is one in the same.

[DoriSchatell]

With a creatinine of 1.0, it makes sense that your GFR would be 70.

But, since the formulas to calculate GFR are not accurate unless the result is less than 60, yours is probably really higher than 70.

You may want to read our information on this site about how to protect your kidney function: http://www.lifeoptions.org/kidneyinfo/ckdinfo.php.

[Unregistered]

So I may be more worried about this than I should be? It sounds so tragic when the doctors tell you all this so I am just sitting here like ok what now am I going to die?? I've got kids so I just want to make sure I am around for them. My case seems pretty mild the more I am learning about this. Thank you for all your help. I really appreciate your time. You have made me feel so much better!!

[DoriSchatell]

It's always scary to hear something for the first time, especially when you don't have any context for what it means to you right now and in the future. From your labs, it sounds like if you do a good job of protecting your kidney function, it could certainly last as long as you do. And seeking information is exactly the right thing to do when you have an issue with your health. Glad to help--that's why we're here. :-D

[Unregistered]

hi i have a couple od questions i have thsi since i was a baby i was born with it and i found out like 2 years, i have been in so much pain and i get alot of bladder infection and utis.. what can i do to help me get better cause right now my left kidney is at 10% it was at 8% and i dont know how to get my kidney percent up. i want to be better and healthy and not in so much pain.... i drink cranberry jucie and everything i can think of....


please help me
you can also eamil me at skittles_cndy@yahoo.com tell me who you are and what website so i know.......

[DoriSchatell]

Hi Skittles,

We're not doctors, and would need more information to go on to even help you figure out what questions we could suggest that you ask YOUR doctor. I did find a thread on Medhelp that might give you some ideas. http://www.medhelp.org/forums/urology/messages/31668.html.

[Unregistered]

hello!!!
My name is Lily and i have an atrophic left kidney due to reflux scarring in the past. They found out that my kidney only works six percent. But my Other one works 94 percent...They want to remove my left one because they think that it will bring my hypertension down.How could they be so sure of this? I dont want to remove it for nothing....what if they kidney function increases!

[DoriSchatell]

Hi Lily,

Excellent question. We're not doctors, but I have to say that I've worked in this field for 20 years and never figured out how they measure the function of one kidney vs. the other. If I had to guess, I'd say either ultrasound or some sort of IV imaging test, like an IVP, where the doctors can SEE the function. Have you had these sorts of tests done?

If you have 96% function in your other kidney, you have about 50% function overall. This would put you in stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD). If you can keep 50% function, then your kidney function can last as long as you do. If your other kidney suffers the same sort of damage, you could reach kidney failure. This is, no doubt, what your doctor is trying to prevent.

Reflux scarring is preventable if it's diagnosed. Surgery can fix it. Unfortunately, it is probably missed more often than it is caught. It's good news to have it caught while there is still time to do something to protect the rest of your kidney function. Ask your doctor HOW he or she knows that your other kidney is definitely the cause of your high blood pressure. Get a second opinion, if you need to, and a third, until you are certain. Ask what happens if you wait and take blood pressure pills. Once you are sure, then you can decide how you want to proceed.

[Unregistered]

My left Kidney is atrophic and my nephrologist said they dont need to remove it it will "die off" on it's own. In my renal scan we saw it would fill up but never drain and when it fills it causes me pain. Is this normal to not remove a kidney that fills and doesnt drain? It just seems like this is unhealthy that this kidney fills up but what happens after that? where does it go? I hope someone can shed some light. thanks

dear
If you feel pain it is better to remove it.i was also in the same condition my left kidney was atrophic.i cosulted with many nephrologists and urologist all are having same opinion to remove it .Because if any filling defects or infection may cause the failure of the other one.You can remove it by laproscopic surgery.A good surgen can do it in faster and safer.The risk involvement is very less compared to open surgery and cure is quick moreover less chance of infection.I did the surgery on 13 nov of last month and cured within 3 days .At present i am very comfortable and no medicine.MY pressure,creatine are well withinthe limit and another kidney is working 90 percent GFR

[Beth Witten MSW ACSW]

Has your doctor checked your kidneys for renal artery stenosis. Narrowing or blockage of the main (renal) artery can cause the the kidney to atrophy and can cause hypertenion too.
http://www.nephrologychannel.com/ras/index.shtml