[Renal ptosis: nephrologic consequences of an organ malposition]

Renal ptosis is the caudal acquired displacement of one or both of the kidneys, with different degree and etiology, considered as a urological pathology because of its urodynamic changes and, in the last years, almost completely neglected. The aim of the work is to research a parenchymal involvement, through a close examination of our outpatient record of cases, compared with data from the literature about renal ptosis. The literature reports the largest incidence in females; in our record of cases, instead, the incidence is nearly the same. Second degree ptosis is the most frequent, but, in females, bilateral ptosis is prevalent (77%). We agree with the literature about urinary symptoms; actually, the most of the patients shows urinary colics or lumbar pain. We also noticed UTI (62%), urinary lithiasis (26%) and pyelocalyceal ectasia (46%). A lot of patients suffer from microscopic haematuria (77%) and, in 12%, we noticed gross haematuria. Hypertension affects about half of the patients (46%) and proteinuria too (42%). Echography highlights a reduced cortex (12%), cysts (14%) and other changes (8%). GFR is decreased in 30% of cases, to a different degree. The patients show different changes, according to their age. In conclusion, considering that the incidence and the anatomic and functional changes are remarkable, we think it opportune to take renal ptosis into account as a cause of chronic renal damage, also because it is included among the causes of obstructive nephrophaty, which according to some researches, can cause severe glomerular and tubular-intestinal changes, triggered off by a short urinary stasis and evident in the controlateral kidney too.