What are the treatment options for spongy kidney?
My grandmother mentioned having kidney pain the other day. After going to the hospital for an examination, she was diagnosed with medullary sponge kidney. I had never heard of this condition before, and I would like to ask about the available treatment options for medullary sponge kidney.
Doctor's answer (1)
Sponge kidney, also known as medullary sponge kidney, is a congenital malformation of the kidney characterized mainly by dilation of the renal tubules and collecting ducts, forming a sponge-like structure. The following are some treatment recommendations:
1. Drug therapy: Commonly used medications include traditional Chinese medicine preparations, tonics, and hormone drugs. For patients with urinary tract infections, antibiotics such as amoxicillin and ceftriaxone sodium may be used to reduce the inflammatory response. Hydrochlorothiazide can decrease urine concentration through its diuretic effect, reducing the chance of stone formation. Potassium citrate supplementation can stabilize urine pH and prevent phosphate crystal formation, thereby reducing the risk of stone development.
2. Hemodialysis: For patients with severe disease, hemodialysis is a common treatment method that effectively removes waste substances caused by glomerular filtration dysfunction, thus alleviating the condition.
3. Surgical treatment: In some cases, such as when kidney stones are large or complex and cannot be resolved by nonsurgical methods, surgical intervention may be required, including procedures such as percutaneous nephrolithotomy and flexible ureteroscopic lithotripsy.
