Uncovering risk factors for kidney injury in children with a solitary functioning kidney.

Children with a solitary functioning kidney (SFK) have an increased risk of kidney injury. The exact risk of and risk factors for kidney injury remain unknown, which impedes personalized care. Here, we recruited a nationwide multicenter cohort of 944 patients with SFK to get more insight into this by consenting patients born in 1993-2020 and diagnosed with congenital or acquired SFK before adulthood. The median follow-up was 12.8 years and four indications of kidney injury were studied: urine protein-creatinine ratios, blood pressure, estimated glomerular filtration rate and use of anti-hypertensive/proteinuric medication. For each indicator except medication use, separate cut-off values for any injury and severe injury were used. Survival analyses indicated that at 18 years of age, any or severe kidney injury were present in 75% and 39% of patients with congenital SFK, respectively. Risk factors for kidney injury included kidney agenesis as cause of the SFK, anomalies in the SFK, and high body mass index at last follow-up. Kidney agenesis and being overweight were specifically associated with proteinuria and high blood pressure, whereas anomalies in the SFK were associated with reduced estimated glomerular filtration rates. The high prevalence of kidney injury in patients with SFK emphasizes the need for long-term follow-up, in which lifestyle is an important topic to address. More research into the etiological role of risk factors will help to translate our findings into individualized care strategies. Thus, our study shows that a significant proportion of children with SFK will develop kidney injury over time.

Congenital Solitary Functioning Kidney: A Review.

BACKGROUND: Solitary functioning kidney (SFK) is a subgroup of the Congenital Anomalies of the Kidneys and Urinary Tract (CAKUT). Although the prognosis of these patients was considered good in the past, numerous studies have shown different levels of kidney damage associated with this condition. Serum creatinine measurement is still the most used marker to assess renal function, even though the limitations are widely known. OBJECTIVE: The present review aims to summarize and update the scientific literature on congenital SFK, discussing its pathophysiology, diagnosis, complications, prognosis, role of novel urinary biomarkers, treatment, and follow-up. RESULTS: The natural history of congenital SFK is still an unresolved issue due to several factors. Although it has not yet been proven in humans, Brenner's hyperfiltration hypothesis is the most concrete theory to explain the poor renal outcomes of patients born with one functioning kidney. The search for novel urinary biomarkers capable of assessing renal function and predicting renal outcomes has already started, but there are still few studies on this specific population. Among the most studied markers, Cystatin C, EGF and NGAL have shown potential usefulness for the follow-up of these patients. The treatment still relies on the search for kidney injury and general renoprotective measures. CONCLUSION: Further research with a longer follow-up duration is needed to better understand the natural course of congenital SFK and the role of novel urinary biomarkers in this specific population. Thus, it will be possible to improve the prognosis of these patients.

Should we screen for Müllerian anomalies following diagnosis of a congenital renal anomaly?

INTRODUCTION: Despite the well-established embryological relationship in the development of renal and Müllerian structures, no clear guidelines exist regarding screening for Müllerian anomalies (MA) in the setting of a renal anomaly (RA). Delayed diagnosis of MA can have significant reproductive consequences. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of coexisting MA in patients with congenital RA. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of females age 12-35 years with a diagnosis of RA, identified by diagnosis codes, who were followed for care between 2013 and 2020. Data were collected on demographics, medical history, clinical presentation, and imaging studies. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data. This study was IRB approved. RESULTS: A total of 465 patients were included in this study, of whom 326 patients (70.3%) had a pelvic evaluation during the study period. Of these 326 patients, 125 (38.3%) were found to have coexistent MA. About one-third of patients who underwent pelvic evaluation due to pain were found to have MA. For 69.6% (87/125) of patients with MA, the RA was diagnosed prior to the MA. The average age at time of RA diagnosis was 6.4 ± 8.8 years and the average age of MA diagnosis was 16.4 ± 6.9 years. Forty-eight (38.4%) patients had obstructive anomalies. Of the Müllerian obstructions, 93.8% were treated with urgent surgery and the remainder started on hormonal suppression. The prevalence of MA was dependent on the RA diagnosis (Figure). Of patients with a solitary kidney, 67.1% were diagnosed with MA. For other parenchymal RA, the prevalence of MA was 20-23%. In patients with solitary kidney, uterus didelphys was the most common MA (52.1%). Thirty percent of patients with a solitary kidney were diagnosed with an obstructive MA. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, 38% of patients with RA who underwent a pelvic evaluation were found to also have MA. Our study shows the strongest association between MA and solitary kidney, but also emphasizes a significant risk with other RA. Almost 40% of patients with diagnosed MA were found to have an obstruction that required urgent treatment. Delays in diagnosis and treatment of Müllerian obstructions can be detrimental for future reproductive health, due to risk of chronic pain, infertility, infection, and endometriosis. Given the high prevalence of MA in patients with RA, especially those with congenital solitary kidney, routine screening with pelvic ultrasound should be performed around the age of expected menarche.

Development of a multivariable prediction model for congenital unilateral absence of the vas deferens in male partners of infertile couples.

BACKGROUND: Congenital unilateral absence of vas deferens has been diagnosed in fertile and normozoospermic males and is associated with the risk of unilateral renal absence or cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator mutations; but no prediction model currently exists to diagnose this condition. OBJECTIVES: The study aims to identify clinical and biological variables that may have a predictive value for the diagnosis of congenital unilateral absence of vas deferens in male partners of infertile couples MATERIALS AND METHODS: We designed a retrospective, cross-sectional, case-control study on electronic health records of a single tertiary-care andrological centre collected between 1998 and 2018. We included all subjects diagnosed with congenital unilateral absence of vas deferens using combined scrotal and transrectal ultrasounds. Controls were confirmed free of congenital unilateral absence of vas deferens by the same way. Both groups received standardised exploration procedures. Multivariable logistic regression model was built in a backward stepwise manner. Model performance and calibration were assessed. The study is reported according to TRIPOD statement. RESULTS: We included 69 congenital unilateral absence of vas deferens cases and 78 controls. Cases had a lower semen volume than controls. The congenital unilateral absence of vas deferens risk was associated with history of cryptorchidism and both levels of semen fructose and α-glucosidase. These predictors were confirmed by a random forest algorithm. The area under the curve was 0.886 (95% interval: 0.81-0.92). Calibration was performed with the Hosmer-Lemeshow test (p = 0.88). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: History of cryptorchidism, semen fructose and α-glucosidase were identified as relevant and independent predictors for the diagnosis of congenital unilateral absence of vas deferens. The model enables to identify male patients with a high risk of congenital unilateral absence of vas deferens to whom a transrectal ultrasounds would be proposed to confirm the diagnosis, whatever their semen parameters. It will also help to address the risks of unilateral renal absence and of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator mutations carrying during the management of infertile couples.

Organ-Specific Monitoring of Solitary Kidney after Living Donation by Using Markers of Glomerular Filtration Rate and Urinary Proteins.

BACKGROUND: Effective follow-up after living kidney donation is important for maintaining the renal function of the donor. We investigated whether the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary protein and enzyme levels can provide important information regarding the state of the remaining kidney after donor nephrectomy. METHODS: Seventy-five living donations were included (prospective/retrospective) in the study. The following parameters were measured up to 1 year after donor nephrectomy: serum creatinine and cystatin C as markers of the GFR; the high-molecular-weight urinary proteins as markers of glomerular injury; and the low-molecular-weight urinary proteins and urinary enzymes as markers of tubular function. RESULTS: One year after kidney donation, the creatinine and cystatin C values were 1.38-fold increased than their initial values, while the eGFR was 32% lower. At that time, 38% of donors had a moderate or high risk of CKD progression. The biochemical urinary glomerular and tubular kidney markers examined showed different behaviors. After a transient increase, the glomerular proteins normalized. Conversely, the detection of low-molecular-weight urinary proteins and enzymes reflected mild tubular damage at the end of the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that for the evaluation of mild tubular damage, low-molecular-weight marker proteins should be included in the urine diagnostic of a personalized living kidney donor follow-up.

Retrospective evaluation of children with unilateral renal agenesis.

BACKGROUND: Children born with unilateral renal agenesis (URA) are thought to have a risk of developing hypertension, proteinuria, and progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). The present study aimed to evaluate the long-term prognosis and clinical characteristics of children with URA. METHODS: The study included 171 patients aged < 18 years diagnosed as URA who were followed-up for ≥ 1 year and 121 healthy controls matched for age, gender, and BMI. RESULTS: Median age at diagnosis was 2 years (IQR: 1 month-16 years) and the incidence of URA in males (65.4%) was higher than in females. Among the patients, 21 (12.2%) had other urinary system anomalies. It was noted that 2.3% of the patients had proteinuria, 15.2% had hyperfiltration, and 2.9% had CKD. Hypertension based on ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was diagnosed in 18 (10.5%) of the patients, of whom 10 had masked hypertension. Diastolic blood pressure in the URA patients was significantly higher than in the healthy controls. The incidence of hypertension and CKD was significantly higher in the patients with other urinary system anomalies. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a single functional kidney should be periodically evaluated throughout their lifetime for urine protein, blood pressure, and kidney functions. The most remarkable finding of this study is the importance of the use of ABPM for evaluating blood pressure in pediatric URA patients, especially for the detection of masked hypertension and the non-dipper phenomenon, which cannot be achieved with office blood pressure measurement.

Congenital Solitary Kidney from Birth to Adulthood.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the course of prenatally diagnosed and early-enrolled congenital solitary functioning kidney patients followed until adulthood and to identify risk factors for kidney injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among all congenital solitary functioning kidney patients followed (1993-2018), we recalled 56 patients with prenatal diagnosis and congenital solitary functioning kidney confirmation at 1-3 months of life reaching at least 18 years of age. Serum uric acid, heavy smoking (≥25 cigarettes/day) and overweight/obesity were clustered as modifiable risk factors. Kidney injury was defined by estimated glomerular filtration rate <90 ml/minute/1.73 m2 and/or 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring confirmed hypertension and/or proteinuria. Modifiable risk factors and congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) of congenital solitary functioning kidney were evaluated as risk factors for kidney injury. RESULTS: The mean followup period was 21.1 years (range 18-33 years). Mild kidney injury was found in 15 out of 56 patients (26.8%). The mean age at proteinuria, reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate and hypertension onset was 19.7 years (1.2 SDS), 20.7 years (2.7 SDS), and 22 years (5.6 SDS), respectively. Patients with CAKUT of congenital solitary functioning kidney and with both CAKUT of congenital solitary functioning kidney and modifiable risk factors presented survival free from kidney injury of 0% at 22.2 and 24.2 years of age, respectively. Patients with modifiable risk factors presented 42.4% of survival at 30 years. Patients without CAKUT of congenital solitary functioning kidney nor modifiable risk factors presented 100% of survival at 30 years of age (p=0.002). The presence of CAKUT of congenital solitary functioning kidney was the only significant risk factor (HR 4.9; 95% CI 1.8-14.2; p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of congenital solitary functioning kidney in early adulthood appear better than previously reported. Prompt diagnosis of congenital solitary functioning kidney, healthy lifestyle promotion and monitoring of serum uric acid may improve the prognosis of congenital solitary functioning kidney patients.

Herlyn-Werner-Wünderlich syndrome: An unusual case with presentation of menorrhagia.

OBJECTIVE: Herlyn-Werner-Wünderlich (HWW) syndrome is a rare condition in which patients present with a palpable pelvic mass and pain caused by an obstructed hemivagina. Here we present a case of HWW syndrome characterized by prolonged menstrual bleeding. CASE REPORT: A 19-year-old nonsexually active unmarried women experienced irregular menstrual cycles and menorrhagia. The duration of menstrual bleeding was 10-14 days. She also suffered from mild dysmenorrhea since menarche at the age of 13. Transabdominal sonography revealed a double uterus and a heterogeneous myoma-mimicking mass over the left cervical region. The left kidney was absent. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a double uterus, a double vagina with an unperforated left hemivagina, and ipsilateral renal agenesis. The patient underwent cervicovaginal orifice reconstruction surgery. CONCLUSION: Left hematocolpos compression, a partially obstructed right vaginal channel, and an orifice with local venous drainage abnormalities resulted in prolonged menstrual bleeding. In HWW syndrome, the occurrence of a pelvic mass and pain is common; however, prolonged menstrual bleeding is rare.

Müllerianosis of the urinary bladder with unilateral complete renal agenesis: a rare coincidental finding causing delayed presentation.

Müllerianosis is a rare benign lesion of the urinary bladder, which is constituted by two or more of the Müllerian-duct-derived tissues. We report a 45-year-old perimenopausal multiparous woman presenting with occasional episodes of dysuria and lower abdominal discomfort of recent duration. Ultrasound examination revealed a well-defined lesion in urinary bladder and the absence of left kidney. Contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen confirmed the findings. During diagnostic cystoscopy, haemorrhagic polypoidal lesions were noted in the left side of the posterolateral wall and dome of urinary bladder along with the absence of left ureteric orifice. Transurethral resection of the bladder lesions was done and histology examination confirmed the diagnosis of Müllerianosis. She was administered Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist monthly. At 1 year of follow-up, cystoscopy showed only scar tissue. The case was reported for the rarity of Müllerianosis noted in a patient with unilateral agenesis of kidney, a possible cause of delayed presentation.

Validation of non-invasive transcutaneous measurement for glomerular filtration rate in lean and obese C57BL/6J mice.

AIM: The measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in experimental rodents is pivotal to understanding the progression of kidney disease and benefits of treatment strategies. A non-invasive clearance device has been developed, which measures transcutaneous decay of injected FITC-sinistrin in conscious rodents. The technique was validated against the well-established plasma clearance method in the same mice, but on consecutive days, using only models of uninephrectomy and polycystic kidney disease. We aimed to validate this widely used technique in the same lean or obese mice, at the same time. METHODS: Five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomised to a high fat diet (n = 12) or normal diet (n = 11) for 10 weeks. Transcutaneous and plasma clearance of FITC-sinistrin were measured simultaneously in each mouse. RESULTS: In lean mice, there was a positive correlation between transcutaneous and plasma derived GFR (P < .01, R2 = .704), although there was an approximate 40% underestimation by the transcutaneous method (P < .0001). In obese mice, no correlation was observed between transcutaneous and plasma derived GFR, nor elimination half-life which removes any effect of the conversion factor and injected dose. The limits of agreement in a Bland-Altman plot were narrower when we used new conversion factors derived from mice in the current study and, in lean mice, a generic conversion factor which assumes 20% extracellular volume. CONCLUSION: The non-invasive clearance device may be useful for serial GFR measurements in lean and healthy mice, provided validation studies have been carried out, but its utility in obesity requires further study.

Whole-exome sequencing identifies a GREB1L variant in a three-generation family with Müllerian and renal agenesis: a novel candidate gene in Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome. A case report.

The aetiology of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome, characterized by uterovaginal agenesis in 46,XX women, remains poorly understood. Since familial occurrences are rare, genetic findings reported so far only apply to a minority of mainly sporadic cases and most studies have not included other family members enabling segregation analysis. Herein, we report on the investigation of a unique three-generation family of two female cousins with MRKH syndrome and unilateral renal agenesis (RA) and two deceased male relatives with RA. We performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) in eight family members leading to the identification of a novel pathogenic (CADD = 33) c.705G>T missense variant in GREB1L, a gene recently identified as a novel cause of RA. Previous reports include several cases of female fetuses with bilateral RA and uterus agenesis, which support GREB1L as an important gene in both kidney and female genital tract development. The pedigree is compatible with autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance following a parent-origin-specific manner, which could be due to imprinting. To our knowledge, this is the first investigation of a larger MRKH syndrome pedigree using WES, and we suggest GREB1L as a novel and promising candidate gene in the aetiology of MRKH syndrome.

The Incidence and Durability of Compensatory Hypertrophy in Pediatric Patients with Solitary Kidneys.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence and durability of compensatory hypertrophy with solitary kidneys in the setting of those with multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) or Wilms tumor (WT) status postnephrectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with MCDK and WT. MCDK patients were verified by sonographic findings prenatally. WT patients entered our study at time of nephrectomy. We compared the natural history of hypertrophy between the 2 cohorts via renal length measurement. We performed linear regression to predict creatinine clearance from renal length after adjusting for age and cohort status (MCDK versus WT). RESULTS: Fifty-two patients (56%) were diagnosed with WT, and 71 patients (44%) with MCDK patients met study criteria with a median age of postnatal ultrasound at 1.6 months (interquartile range 0.5-3.6). The median (IQR) follow-up time was 7.5 years. At the time of nephrectomy, 25/52 (48%) of Wilms patients had contralateral hypertrophy, while at diagnosis 22/71 (31%) of MCDK patients had contralateral hypertrophy, P = .03. Contralateral hypertrophy was a consistent finding throughout follow-up. As renal length increases by 1 cm, glomerular filtration rate increased by 7.8 mL/min/m2 (95% confidence interval 1.8-13.8, P = .01). CONCLUSION: Contralateral hypertrophy appears to be a compensatory mechanism for unilateral kidney pathology as demonstrated by MCDK and WT patients. Hypertrophy often occurs at the time of diagnosis and appears to be a permanent finding as children reach their teenage years. Additionally, in nonhydronephrotic kidneys, increases in renal length correlate with improvement in glomerular filtration rate. Overall, the majority of children with solitary kidneys demonstrate compensatory hypertrophy.

Renal arterial atherothrombosis due to catheter-induced dissection: Necessity of urgent intervention in a patient with a solitary functioning kidney.

BACKGROUND: Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a leading cause of hypertension, renal failure, pulmonary edema, and loss of renal mass. Atherothrombotic renal disease is a well-described entity, known primarily for its high mortality rate. CASE: Here, we present a case of acute unrecognized atherothrombosis of RAS due to catheter-induced dissection in a patient with a limited functioning renal artery and solitary kidney. A fifty-two-year-old patient recently diagnosed with hypertension was admitted to our cardiology clinic showing symptoms of uncontrolled hypertension. A renal angiography revealed 90% stenosis in the proximal segment of the right renal artery and totally occluded left renal artery. We decided to perform a percutaneous revascularization. However, the patient did not accept it. During follow-up, the patient's clinical condition deteriorated abruptly due to acute iatrogenic atherothrombosis. A percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed, and the patency of the renal artery was secured. CONCLUSION: Renal angiography may cause acute iatrogenic atherothrombosis due to catheter-induced dissection in patients with solitary functioning kidneys. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty may secure the patency of the renal artery.

Correlation between hypertrophy and risk of hypertension in congenital solitary functioning kidney.

PURPOSE: Solitary functioning kidney (SFK) may be associated to hypertrophy, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. We evaluated blood pressure (BP) of children with congenital SFK comparing agenesis to multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) and correlated BP profiles with renal dimensions of affected and contralateral kidney. METHODS: We compared 40 patients with MCDK, grouped for either treatment options (A: conservative vs B: nephrectomy) or involution time (A1: before 4 years-of-age vs A2: persistence-of-MCDK), to 10 unilateral agenesis (C). Patients were evaluated with ultrasound, scintigraphy, office-ambulatory BP monitoring. RESULTS: Compensatory hypertrophy was demonstrated in most of the subjects, without differences between subgroups, with an increase over time (p < 0.001). A1-C showed an overall percentage of hypertrophy significantly higher than A2-B (83%-88% vs 70%-73%, respectively; p = 0.03); moreover, cumulative risk to develop hypertension in A1-C is significantly higher compared to A2-B in office and ambulatory BP monitoring (p = 0.03). Insufficient dipping in systolic and/or diastolic BP was found in 82% children, without differences between subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a small/absent dysplastic kidney have an increased risk to develop hypertrophy and hypertension compared to patients with a large residual, regardless of nephrectomy. ABPM revealed absent dipping in most patients with SFK, warning further investigations in apparently not symptomatic patients.

Pure large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder without urological symptoms.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma is one of the uncommonly seen pathologies of the urinary bladder. Macroscopic hematuria is frequently encountered symptom in patients with neuroendocrine carcinoma. We report a 45-year-old man with left solitary kidney and oliguria for five days the development of acute renal failure (ARF) with the impaired general condition. The underlying cause being identified as pure type large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder. Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder is an uncommon fatal tumor. No macroscopic hematuria or urological symptom was observed in our case. Advanced ectasia was not observed in the kidney, and the patient's clinical status was complicated with ARF. It must not be forgotten that in some bladder tumors, the patient's general condition may be impaired without urological symptoms.

A Case of Acrorenal Syndrome.

Urinary tract anomalies are common and comprise about 20% to 30% of total congenital anomalies. This spectrum consists of many different anomalies of the urinary tract that may be syndromic or nonsyndromic with different etiologies. In this case report, a patient with single kidney and urinary tract signs is introduced that was diagnosed accidentally. The finding of different anomalies in different organ systems should lead us to examination of the intactness of the urinary tract. In these disorders, if there is no need for immediate intervention, long-term follow-up can be helpful to postpone chronic kidney disease progression.

Retrospective study to identify risk factors for chronic kidney disease in children with congenital solitary functioning kidney detected by neonatal renal ultrasound screening.

To evaluate the prognostic significance of factors frequently associated with a reduction in renal mass, such as prematurity, low birth weight, and congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), in patients with solitary functioning kidney (SFK) and investigate signs of early renal injury due to glomerular hyperfiltration damage or dysplasia in the remaining kidney.Retrospective observational study of congenital SFK diagnosed and followed at a tertiary care hospital over a period of 10 years in which 32,900 newborns underwent routine neonatal abdominal ultrasound screening. We analyzed age at diagnosis, sex, gestational age, anthropometric measurements at birth and prenatal and neonatal ultrasound findings, in addition to follow-up data corresponding to imaging findings (ultrasound, micturating cystourethrography, dimercaptosuccinic acid renal, and scintigraphy), ipsilateral CAKUT, compensatory hypertrophy, and renal injury in the form of albuminuria, blood pressure, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).In total, 128 congenital SFK cases were detected (1 per 257 live births). Of these, 117 (91.4%) were diagnosed by neonatal ultrasound screening and 44.5% of these had been previously identified by prenatal ultrasound. Neonatal ultrasound had a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 92.1%. Forty-five patients (35.2%) had ipsilateral CAKUT and the most common type was urinary collecting system anomalies (75.5%). Over a median follow-up of 6.3 years (1-10 years), compensatory renal hypertrophy was observed in 81 patients (63.7%), most of whom had ipsilateral CAKUT (76.1% vs 56.6% of patients without ipsilateral CAKUT). Albuminuria and hypertension were observed in 3.12% and 5% of patients, respectively, and both were associated with ipsilateral CAKUT (P < .05). In addition, 75% of albuminuria cases (P = .031), 83.3% of hypertension cases (P = .004), and 100% of decreased eGFRcases (P = .031) were significantly associated with CAKUT (renal parenchymal anomaly category), being the strongest predictor of GFR the presence or absence of CAKUT.Neonatal ultrasound screening is useful for the early diagnosis of SFK. The presence of ipsilateral CAKUT should be evaluated in all patients with SFK as congenital anomalies of the renal parenchyma are associated with a poorer prognosis. Because morbidity from CAKUTs may not develop until adulthood, patients should be closely followed throughout life.

Screening for Mullerian anomalies in patients with unilateral renal agenesis: Leveraging early detection to prevent complications.

BACKGROUND: Mullerian anomalies have a known association with renal agenesis yet, to date, there are no formal recommendations for screening women with certain renal anomalies for associated genital tract disorders. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to review current data regarding the association between renal and Mullerian anomalies, and propose screening recommendations. STUDY DESIGN: A comprehensive review of the literature was performed to identify relevant articles using the keywords "unilateral renal agenesis," "renal anomalies," and "Mullerian anomalies." RESULTS: Over 30% of patients with unilateral renal agenesis have an associated Mullerian anomaly. However, diagnosis is frequently delayed in this population until after menarche when complications of retrograde menstruation with obstructive anomalies lead to significant problems including endometriosis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and infertility. No clear guidelines exist for communication among the antenatal sonographer, the obstetrician, the parents, and the child's pediatrician, which creates a barrier to effective screening and follow-up. Further, no current guidelines exist for screening women with certain renal anomalies for Mullerian anomalies. DISCUSSION: The complications of Mullerian anomalies are easily preventable if identified early. We propose new guidelines for education and screening for Mullerian anomalies in patients with unilateral renal agenesis (URA) and multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) to guide providers, patients, and parents on proper identification and management (Table). CONCLUSIONS: Screening young women with URA and MCDK for Mullerian anomalies has the potential to prevent long-term complications from untreated obstructive malformations. Identification of unilateral renal agenesis on antenatal ultrasound must be clearly articulated with parents and the child's pediatrician so that proper screening can be performed before menarche. Pelvic sonography is a low-cost, high-yield screening tool to identify these anomalies.

Conversion during laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal cancer with a congenital solitary pelvic kidney: A case report.

A 54-year-old female patient was hospitalized with a chief complaint of anal discomfort. Based on biopsy results, she was diagnosed with highly differentiated adenocarcinoma, and colonoscopy findings indicated a type 3 rectal tumor. We observed a right pelvic kidney on enhanced abdominal CT. We began a laparoscopic operation but converted to an open operation after resecting the right pelvic renal artery by mistake. After low anterior resection, urologists performed angioplasty of the right renal pelvic artery. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 16, after the preservation of right renal function had been confirmed. This case strongly suggests that it is important to understand the positional relationship of the inferior mesenteric and renal arteries by preoperative assessment using either 3-D CT angiography or magnetic resonance angiography.