title: [Retroperitoneal fibrosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the clinical, therapeutic and progressive characteristics of retroperitoneal fibrosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the observations of retroperitoneal fibrosis diagnosed between 1980 and 2002 in our hospital, from the summaries of 15 patients exhibiting retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF). Therapeutical supervision was based on biology and radiology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 11 men and 4 women with a mean age of 44.5 years ranging from 28-64 years. Pain was predominantly lumbar or abdominal in all patients. An inflammatory syndrome was observed in all patients and renal failure in 11. Radiological examinations revealed single or bilateral in 14 cases and the fibrosis plaque in 13 cases. Treatment consisted in corticosteroids alone in 9 patients, surgery alone in 3 cases and surgery with corticosteroids in 3 patients. Ten relapses (range: 1-5) occurred in 4 patients when corticosteroids were stopped. After a mean follow-up of 36 months (range:18 days-11 years), one death was observed, 12 patients had normal renal function and 2 patients had persistent moderate renal failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms the rarity of retroperitoneal fibrosis, the difficulty in its diagnosis, the frequency of pain, inflammatory syndrome and renal failure. Corticosteroids are efficient and regular follow-up is required.
authors.affiliation: Service de néphrologie et de médecine interne, Hôpital Charles Nicolle, Boulevard du 9 Avril 1938, 1006 BS-Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaaroud
authors.forename: El
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jeri
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Béji
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ben Moussa
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ben Hamida
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hedri
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ben Abdallah
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khedher
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chebil
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ben Maïz
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology; D012185:Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones