Korean J Nephrol.  2011 May;30(3):325-328.

Idiopathic Unilateral Retroperitoneal Fibrosis Diagnosed in a Patient with Normal Renal Function and Left Flank Pain

• Lee MH
• Moon KH
• Kim B
• Lee DY
• Si WK
• Hwang JA
• Choi BK
• Seo KH

Abstract

Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a disease characterized by proliferation of fibro-inflammatory tissue, which mainly encloses the abdominal aorta, iliac arteries and (enlarges to the retroperitoneum to surrounds) ureters. Two leading pathogenesis are an exacerbated local inflammatory reaction to aortic atherosclerosis and a manifestation of systemic autoimmune disease. Because of insidious disease course, most cases are diagnosed late when bilateral urinary obstruction caused oliguria and symptoms related to uremia. In this case, the patient complained left flank pain which might have been caused by left ureter stone, but through abdominal CT scan, the patient was diagnosed as left unilateral retroperitoneal fibrosis. Abdominal CT scan showed encircling mass around abdominal aorta and left ureter with hydronephrosis. The patient had no underlying disease and didn't take any medication; she was diagnosed as idiopathic unilateral retroperitoneal fibrosis and started prednisolone, 40 mg daily. Three months have passed since the therapy was started; most fibrous tissue was disappeared, hydronephrosis was resolved and flank pain was relieved.

Keyword

Unilateral; Retroperitoneal fibrosis; Steroid

MeSH Terms

Aorta, Abdominal
Atherosclerosis
Autoimmune Diseases
Flank Pain
Humans
Hydronephrosis
Iliac Artery
Oliguria
Prednisolone
Retroperitoneal Fibrosis
Uremia
Ureter
Prednisolone