Chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy is a condition in which there is long-term blockage of one of the tubes (ureters) that drains urine from the kidneys.
See also:
Unilateral obstructive uropathy usually occurs when ureteral or kidney stones block the flow of urine. Urine backs up and causes kidney swelling (hydronephrosis).
Other causes include:
Risk factors for unilateral obstructive uropathy include:
Chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy occurs in approximately 5 out of every 1,000 people.
Your health care provider will perform a physical exam, which includes feeling your abdomen. The exam may reveal a swollen kidney.
A blood pressure measure may reveal high blood pressure. A urinalysis may show blood in the urine. A urine culture can determine if you have an infection.
Kidney swelling or blockage of the ureter may appear on these tests:
The goal of treatment is to reduce or remove the blockage.
Stents or drains placed in the ureter or in the renal pelvis may provide short-term relief of symptoms.
A nephrostomy tube, which drains urine from the kidney through the back, may be used to relieve the blockage.
Surgery to repair the underlying cause will usually correct the blockage.
This condition damages the structures of the urinary tract. It may result in permanent damage to the kidney. If only one kidney is involved, the other kidney usually continues to work, and kidney failure or insufficiency does not occur.
Call your doctor if you have flank pain or other symptoms of chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy.
If you have already been diagnosed with this condition, call your health care provider if symptoms worsen or persist despite treatment, or if new symptoms develop.
If you are prone to kidney stones, drink plenty of water (6 to 8 glasses per day) to reduce the chances of their formation.
A diet low in sodium and oxalates and high in citrate may reduce your risk of calcium-based kidney stone formation. Talk to a nutritionist for more information on such diets.
Urinary tract infections should be treated promptly and thoroughly.
Ureteral obstruction - chronic; Obstructive uropathy - unilateral - chronic
Wein AJ, et al. Campbell-Walsh Urology. 9th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2007.
Goldman L, Ausiello D, et al. Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 22nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2004:741-742.
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; Scott Miller, MD, Urologist in private practice in Atlanta, Georgia. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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