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Updated: Jun 30, 2025

Use of Ultra-high Field MRI in Small Rodent Models of Polycystic Kidney Disease for In Vivo Phenotyping and Drug Monitoring
Published on: June 23, 2015
A case of diffuse kidney hyperechogenicity in early childhood associated with biallelic PKHD1 variants
Paola Krall1,2, Víctor Faundes3, Carla Gálvez4,5
1Instituto de Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile. paola.krall@uchile.cl.
Background:
Nephrocalcinosis (NC) is characterized by an excessive accumulation of calcium deposits in the kidneys. In children, it is often incidentally discovered with an uncertain prognosis.
Case-Diagnosis/Treatment:
A 3-month-old girl suspected to have a milk protein allergy underwent an ultrasound that revealed increased echogenicity in the kidney pyramids suggestive of medullary NC. At the age of 18 months, imaging findings revealed not only hyperechogenicity in the medulla but also in the cortex. Over the course of a long follow-up, her kidneys maintained size within the upper limits but showed an increase by age 7. Genetic analysis identified PKHD1 variants, which required structural predictive tools to guide clinical diagnosis. Until the age of 7, her kidney function has remained intact; however, her prognosis is uncertain.
Conclusions:
NC in newborns is a rare condition, but its incidence is rising. Recurrent urinary infections or kidney stones may lead to kidney failure. A proactive approach in sporadic NC enables an early diagnosis to orientate clinical supervision and facilitates counseling to support family planning decisions.
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