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Associated Anomalies and Complications of Multicystic Dysplastic Kidney
1Division of Pediatrics, Department of Nephrology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Bohoričeva 20, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Insights
Children with unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidneys (MCDK) have a good prognosis, especially with a healthy contralateral kidney. Associated genitourinary anomalies are common, but severe complications like hypertension are rare.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Urology
- Medical Genetics
Background:
- Multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) is a congenital condition affecting kidney development.
- Understanding associated anomalies and long-term outcomes is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess complications in children with unilateral MCDK.
- To identify associated congenital genitourinary anomalies.
- To evaluate the overall prognosis of unilateral MCDK.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 80 children with unilateral MCDK.
- Data collected from 2012 to 2020 via health care records.
- Evaluation of kidney function, blood pressure, urinalysis, and associated anomalies.
Main Results:
- 43.8% of children had associated genitourinary anomalies, notably cryptorchidism and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR).
- 6.3% had chromosomal abnormalities; 22.5% had extrarenal malformations.
- Spontaneous involution of MCDK occurred in 38.8%; 12.5% required nephrectomy. No hypertension was observed.
Conclusions:
- Unilateral MCDK generally has a favorable prognosis when the contralateral kidney is normal.
- Congenital genitourinary anomalies, particularly cryptorchidism in boys, are frequent.
- Most children experience normal kidney function and lack significant complications like hypertension.
Background:
To assess multicystic dysplastic kidneys (MCDK) in children, their complications and associated congenital genitourinary anomalies.
Methods:
Children with unilateral MCDK, evaluated between 2012 and 2020, were analyzed. In this retrospective study, data were obtained from electronic and paper health care records.
Results:
There were 80 children included. Follow-up time was 8.0 +/- 5.2 years (mean +/- standard deviation). None of them had hypertension. In total, 43.8% of the children had associated congenital genitourinary anomalies, most commonly cryptorchidism and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), and 6.3% of these children had chromosomopathy. All of them had normal kidney function except one child with dysplasia of the contralateral kidney. Urinalysis was normal in 90% of children. Extrarenal malformations occurred in 22.5% of them. We observed spontaneous involution of MCDK in 38.8% of children in the observed period. Nephrectomy was performed in 12.5% of children, at an average age of 2.0 years.
Conclusions:
Children with a unilateral MCDK have a very good prognosis if the contralateral kidney is normal. Associated congenital genitourinary anomalies are common. Cryptorchidism was found to be the most common associated anomaly among boys, which is unique for this study. Most of these children do not suffer from hypertension, kidney dysfunction or other complications.
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