title: Retroperitoneal fibrosis. A follow-up study.
abstract: 13 patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) were reviewed. 10 patients had idiopathic disease and in 3 patients the disease was secondary to temporal arteritis, aortic aneurysm and ergotamine ingestion. Ureterolysis was performed in all patients. 4 patients were reoperated due to problems arising from RPF progression. A total of 24 ureters were lysed. 23 of these functioned in the early postoperative period. 22 ureters were available for follow-up 4 months to 20 years later. 19 kidneys had a free outflow, 2 kidneys were removed and 1 left in situ without function. A review is presented on the etiology, pathogenesis and treatment of this disease. Percutaneous nephrostomy is recommended when the patient presents with severely elevated plasma creatinine, pyonephrosis or urosepsis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy; D012086:Reoperation; D012185:Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery