title: Retroperitoneal fibrosis: a retrospective clinical data analysis of 30 patients in a 10-year period.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is an uncommon disease that is characterized by development of fibrosclerotic tissues involving retroperitoneal structures. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of 30 patients with RPF in a single center in Beijing in a 10-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed clinical data on demographic characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, radiological findings, modalities of treatments, outcomes and prognosis of 30 patients with RPF. Patients were treated in Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital between January 2003 and December 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of patients with RPF was 56.7 ± 14.4 years. Twenty-three patients were men and seven patients were women. Acute phase reactants were elevated in most patients. Rheumatic factor was positive in 4/25 (16.0%) patients, and antinuclear antibody was positive in 6/22 (27.3%) patients. Elevation of IgG4 was observed in 9/22 (40.9%) patients. The most common type was I + III (n = 13), followed by I + II + III (n = 12). Five patients undertook an 18 F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography examination and increased uptake was detected in four patients. Eight patients received combination therapy with glucocorticoids and tamoxifen. Surgical intervention treatments included intraureteral double-J stent implantation (n = 26), percutaneous nephrostomy (n = 2), open ureterolysis and intraperitonealization of the ureters (n = 5) and laparoscopic ureterolysis and intraperitonealization of the ureters (n = 5). Three patients underwent hemodialysis because of renal failure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clinical characteristics of RPF patients in our study are similar to those previously reported. Steroids and immunosuppressive therapy combined with ureterolysis could be a viable choice of treatment for RPF. More prospective, multi-center studies with a longer follow-up are warranted.
authors.forename: Hai-Jiang
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Tian-Fei
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Xue-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chun-Sheng
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012185:Retroperitoneal Fibrosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D013629:Tamoxifen