Congenital Renal Tract Abnormalities: a Neonatal Perspective
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REVIEW © 2017 SNL All rights reserved Congenital renal tract abnormalities: a neonatal perspective Congenital renal and urinary system malformations are among the commonest congenital anomalies. They represent a wide spectrum of disorders with varying degrees of postnatal clinical significance. Many of these conditions can be detected on antenatal ultrasonography as part of the 18-20 week anomaly scan. This article will cover the postnatal management of renal dilatation and other commonly seen anomalies. 1 Pallavi Prasad he kidneys and urinary tract are the ■ Renal pelvic dilatation most common sites for congenital MBChB, MRCPCH, BMS BSc T ■ Congenital renal anomalies ST5 Paediatric Nephrology abnormalities and can account for 15-20% of all prenatally detected congenital • Renal agenesis 1 • Ectopic kidney Catherine Agar anomalies.1 Congenital renal and urinary - Pelvic kidney MBChB, MRCPCH system malformations are seen in 3-4% of - Crossed renal ectopia ST3 Community Paediatrics the population.2 - Horseshoe kidney Various conditions can result in renal Cath Harrison • Duplex kidney malformations seen on an antenatal BMedSci, BM BS, DTM&H, FRCPCH anomaly scan. Neonatal healthcare ■ Congenital cystic kidney disease Consultant Neonatologist1 and Consultant professionals should be aware of congenital • Multicystic dysplastic kidney (Neonatal Lead)2 renal abnormalities as early postnatal • Dysplastic kidney (renal dysplasia) ■ Posterior urethral valve (PUV) 1Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust intervention and appropriate long-term 2Embrace Transport Service follow-up will ensure prompt diagnosis FIGURE 1 Renal anomalies that are and management, avoid unnecessary commonly encountered in neonates. investigations and minimise renal damage. This article will review the postnatal management of the renal anomalies seen Kidney in FIGURE 1. Anatomy of the urinary system The urinary system produces, stores and removes urine from the body. The kidneys Keywords make urine by filtering the blood to remove waste products. From the kidneys Ureter kidney; renal dilatation; congenital Pelviureteric the urine flows through the ureters to the abnormality; neonatal junction urinary bladder and then to the outside of Bladder Key points the body along the urethra during Prasad P., Agar C., Harrison C. Congenital urination. The basic anatomy of the Vesicoureteric renal tract abnormalities: a neonatal urinary tract can be seen in FIGURE 2. junction Urethra perspective. Infant 2017; 13(3): 100-104. 1. The kidneys and urinary tract are the Renal pelvic dilatation FIGURE 2 most common sites for congenital Fetal renal pelvic dilatation is a common Anatomy of the urinary system. abnormalities. anomaly detected on antenatal scanning, 2. Detection of renal anomalies during an with an incidence of 0.5-1% in pregnancy.3 significant morbidity. Renal pelvic antenatal scan enables prompt The presence of renal pelvic dilatation can dilatation can be classified according to the diagnosis and management in the indicate diseases such as structural NHS fetal anomaly scan national standards postnatal period. anomalies, obstruction or vesicoureteric (FIGURE 3).3 3. A robust screening pathway is essential reflux (VUR – an abnormal backward flow Renal pelvic dilatation is usually detected to ensure early detection, avoid of urine from the bladder to the upper on the 20-week anomaly scan with some unnecessary investigations and reduce urinary tract).3 Although mostly a benign centres offering a further serial scan at parental anxiety. condition, it can in some cases cause 30-36 weeks’ gestation.5,7 Evidence suggests 100 VOLUME 13 ISSUE 3 2017 infant REVIEW that there is uncertainty in how fetal renal Grade Renal pelvic diameter disruption in the metanephric stage in the pelvic dilatation reflects postnatal abnor- first few weeks of gestation. An important malities but it is generally agreed that there Normal <7mm differential diagnosis for unilateral agenesis is an undiagnosed ectopic kidney.11 Renal is a greater likelihood of postnatal Mild 7-10mm problems with increasing pelvic dilatation.3,8 agenesis can be diagnosed on the 20-week It is therefore essential to have a robust Moderate 10-15mm antenatal anomaly scan and/or during investigations for urinary tract infections. screening pathway to identify those infants Severe >15mm with significant renal problems to ensure In approximately 50% of children with early intervention and long-term follow- FIGURE 3 Renal dilatation grading by unilateral agenesis there is an association 3-6 up, yet avoid unnecessary investigations. anteroposterior pelvic diameter. with other congenital abnormalities of the An example of a screening pathway is urinary tract: ■ shown in FIGURE 4. ■ Renal dilatation >10mm with or with- VUR occurs in 28% of children with uni- Renal pelvic dilatation should be out other abnormalities. The infant lateral agenesis ■ managed in the following way: will require prophylactic antibiotics pelviureteric junction obstruction ■ Uncomplicated renal dilatation ≤7mm. (trimethoprim) from birth. Ideally ultra- (PUJ – blockage at the junction where the If there are no other associated renal sound will be performed before dis- ureter attaches to the kidney) and/or abnormalities (such as duplex kidney) no charge. Follow-up is required in the vesicoureteric junction obstruction (VUJ postnatal investigations are required. neonatal or urology clinic. – blockage where the ureter meets the ■ Uncomplicated renal dilatation bladder) occur in 20% of children with 10,11 7-10mm. The infant does not require Congenital renal anomalies unilateral agenesis. Seventy per cent of children with antibiotics. The first renal ultrasound Unilateral agenesis scan should take place at one month of unilateral agenesis have associated genital Unilateral agenesis – the absence of a single age; it is important the scan is not anomalies that can be either minor or kidney – has an incidence of approximately major, such as an absent gonad on the delayed. Follow-up is necessary after the 9,10 one in 1,000 to one in 3,200 live births. ipsilateral side.6,12 Long-term outcomes can one-month scan if the abnormalities Renal agenesis occurs after a major persist. be varied and dependent on the quality of Guidelines for the investigation of prenatal renal pelvic dilatation Renal pelvis 7-10mm Renal pelvis >10mm OR Antenatal Ureters normal dilated ureters (20 week scan) +/- other suspicious features Ultrasound scan before discharge + antibiotics No antibiotics Bilateral dilatation in a boy Early postnatal Pelvis <15mm Pelvis ≥15mm OR Urgent MCU Ureters and calyces dilated calyces OR ureter(s) (Valves?) normal Urgent surgical Pelvis and calyces only Dilated ureters OR referral Probable PUJ thickwalled bladder 1 Month Ultrasound scan Ultrasound scan + No valves Ultrasound + prompt MCU Unexpected MAG3 renogram Normal scan Pelvis 6-14mm* No reflux Mild reflux valves pelvis ≤5mm Stop antibiotics VUJ? (Grade 1) Significant reflux Ultrasound scan (grades 2-5) Static situation* 3 Months or residual Reducing dilatation dilatation ≥10mm pelvis <10mm Outcome Discharge Surgical referral Monitor/treat Refer nephrology *If pelvis increases ≥15mm Ureters OR calyces dilated – investigate as significant FIGURE 4 The Leeds Teaching Hospital’s neonatal guideline for investigation of prenatal renal pelvic dilatation.6 Key: MCU = micturating cystourethrography (used to examine whether reflux is occurring during urination), PUJ = pelvicureteric junction obstruction, MAG3 = MAG3 renogram (a scan to assess whether the kidneys are draining properly into the bladder), VUJ = vesicoureteric junction obstruction. infant VOLUME 13 ISSUE 3 2017 101 REVIEW the existing kidney. If there is normal renal VUR. They can be associated with non- cases.10 Renal calculi can also occur in function and no other associated abnor- renal anomalies (cardiac, skeletal) or part approximately 20-60% of patients due to malities the outcome is excellent.5,10,12 of syndromes such as in CHARGE the presence of hydronephrosis (a build-up syndrome and VACTERL association.15, 16 of urine leading to distension and dilation Action Pelvic kidneys are the commonest form of the kidney) or obstruction causing Infants should have a postnatal ultrasound of renal ectopia (90%) with a left-sided urinary stasis and infection. PUJ scan as an out-patient within the first predominance.5 The majority of patients obstruction is seen due to the high inser- month of life to measure the size of the with this are asymptomatic. tion of the ureter into the renal pelvis and single kidney and to look for other renal In crossed renal ectopia, one kidney displacement of the isthmus.14 Other abnormalities. Small ectopic kidneys and crosses the midline and its ureter re-crosses complications include: trauma to the pelvic kidneys can be difficult to visualise the midline to fuse with the bladder on the isthmus, an increased risk of Wilms’ on antenatal scans, therefore a postnatal correct side. In the majority of cases tumour and hypertension secondary to scan is indicated to verify the antenatal (85-90%) the two kidneys are fused, most renal cortical scarring.10 findings. There may also be evidence of commonly the lower pole of the normal Action compensatory renal hypertrophy (>50th kidney with the upper pole of the ectopic centile for age and height) on the kidney as it sits inferiorly, medially and Infants should have a postnatal ultrasound contralateral normal kidney, which is a abnormally rotated.12, 17 This condition is to confirm the