What is lumbar hydrops?
Sep 13, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Jin Zhongkui
Introduction
The professional term for "lumbar fluid accumulation" is hydronephrosis. The pathogenesis of hydronephrosis essentially involves an obstruction in the urinary tract, preventing urine from draining from the kidneys into the ureters. This leads to gradual accumulation of urine within the kidneys, resulting in increased local pressure, dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces, and potentially even kidney atrophy. The main causes are classified as urinary tract obstructive diseases, lower urinary tract infections, and large renal cysts.
The professional term for "lumbar fluid accumulation" is hydronephrosis. The pathogenesis of hydronephrosis is essentially an obstruction in the urinary system that prevents urine from flowing from the kidneys into the ureters, leading to gradual accumulation of urine within the kidneys. This increases local pressure, causing dilation of the renal pelvis and calyces, and may even lead to kidney tissue atrophy. The causes of hydronephrosis are mainly divided into the following categories:
1. Urinary tract obstructive diseases
Congenital urinary tract obstructions commonly include congenital urinary tract maldevelopment and congenital ureteral stenosis. Acquired urinary tract obstructions, such as kidney stones, ureteral stones, or kidney trauma, can cause narrowing at the ureteral orifice. This may lead to vesicoureteral reflux, increased intraluminal pressure in the ureter, resulting in ureteral kinking, tortuosity, or stricture, thereby causing obstruction and subsequent hydronephrosis.
2. Lower urinary tract infections
Persistent infection can cause thickening of the lower urinary tract wall, gradually leading to urinary tract narrowing, which may in turn result in hydronephrosis.
3. Large renal cysts
As fluid within the cyst continues to increase, it may compress the renal parenchyma and even the renal pelvis and calyces, blocking urine entry into the ureter. This can lead to hydronephrosis, impair renal function, or cause localized infection.
