Acute reversible kidney injury secondary to bilateral ureteric obstruction

Acute reversible kidney injury (ARKI) secondary to bilateral ureteric obstruction (BUO) is a common urological problem. Our goals were to describe the etiology, management and outcomes of such patients identified between 2006 and 2009 and to compare them with a similar historical study published in 1982.

Chart review was performed on 49 patients with AKRI secondary to BUO. ARKI was defined as ≥33% decrease in serum creatinine after intervention. Those with malignant and benign causes of obstruction were identified and management and outcome data were collected.

Of these 49 patients, 83% had BUO secondary to malignancy, 28% of these presenting for the first time. Prevalence of bladder cancer was increased (p = 0.04) and cervix trended lower (p = 0.07) compared with the earlier study; prostate cancer was unchanged (p = 0.51). The average survival was 239 days; 90% of patients died within a year after presenting with BUO from a malignant etiology. Compared with the 1982 group, there were trends towards a decrease in the frequency of retroperitoneal fibrosis (p = 0.08) and an increase in bilateral ureteric calculi (p = 0.16) in the benign group.

Patients with ARKI secondary to BUO most likely have an underlying malignancy, with almost a third of them being diagnosed for the first time. Prevalence of bladder cancer increased while cervical cancer trended lower. The cause for the former is unclear; the latter may be due to aggressive screening. Prostate cancer remained unchanged despite the widespread implementation of prostate-specific antigen testing. Patients with an underlying malignancy do poorly and those with a newly diagnosed malignancy do worst. Those with ARKI secondary to benign causes did well.