Why does kidney atrophy involve an increase in volume?
Sep 13, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhao Xinju
Introduction
The symptom of increased kidney volume in patients with renal atrophy may be related to factors such as impaired kidney function and increased vascular permeability. The exact cause can only be definitively diagnosed after a series of examinations. Impaired kidney function severely affects the kidneys and the glomerular filtration function, leading to abnormal enlargement of atrophic kidneys.
Patients with renal atrophy may experience an increase in kidney size, which could be related to impaired renal function, increased vascular permeability, and other factors. The exact cause must be determined through a series of diagnostic tests before a definitive diagnosis can be made.
1. Impaired Renal Function
When the kidneys undergo organ shrinkage due to physiological or pathological reasons, the function of the kidneys and glomerular filtration is severely affected. As excess fluid in the body cannot be properly excreted via the kidneys, it accumulates within the kidneys and other organ tissues. This fluid retention can lead to abnormal enlargement of the atrophied kidneys.
2. Increased Vascular Permeability
Pathological renal atrophy can result from conditions such as acute pyelonephritis and renal failure. Inflammatory processes and functional failure affect the blood vessels within the kidneys, damaging, detaching, and causing atrophy of vascular endothelial cells. These changes also increase vascular permeability. As a result, large amounts of fluid leak from the blood vessels and accumulate within the kidneys, eventually leading to secondary renal edema and enlargement of kidney volume.
