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What Causes Fetal Hydronephrosis?
Question: Hi,
Please help me understand on what causes fetal hydronephrosis? I am in my 32nd week of pregnancy.
My past two scans report that right fetal hydronephrosis is present in the baby. I am so disturbed with this.
During the first scan by 5th month the doctor who did the scan told this is due to maternal hormone effect - progesterone & said it will go off by 7th month. Even in the 7th month scan it was seen.
Please tell me the causes for it. Is it only the maternal hormone effect? Does eating diuretic vegetables solve this?
Thanks,
XXXX
Please help me understand on what causes fetal hydronephrosis? I am in my 32nd week of pregnancy.
My past two scans report that right fetal hydronephrosis is present in the baby. I am so disturbed with this.
During the first scan by 5th month the doctor who did the scan told this is due to maternal hormone effect - progesterone & said it will go off by 7th month. Even in the 7th month scan it was seen.
Please tell me the causes for it. Is it only the maternal hormone effect? Does eating diuretic vegetables solve this?
Thanks,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Various reasons for hydronephrosis
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Fetal hydronephrosis occurs in many conditions such as
1. Some renal anomaly in the fetus
2. Chromosomal anomalies like Down syndrome
3. Urinary bladder obstruction in posterior urethral valve
4. Idiopathic( no cause is found).
Your doctor might have ruled out other congenital anomalies in the fetus by a detailed ultrasound.
If there are no congenital anomalies or other markers of chromosomal anomalies in the ultrasound, then the chance of chromosomal anomalies in the fetus are not there.
Renal anomalies are also ruled out in ultrasound.
If the fetal hydronephrosis is not increasing in subsequent ultrasounds, then there is no reason to worry.
Your baby should get a postnatal ultrasound to assess the hydronephrosis and a X Ray to assess the renal function.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
Various reasons for hydronephrosis
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear, I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Fetal hydronephrosis occurs in many conditions such as
1. Some renal anomaly in the fetus
2. Chromosomal anomalies like Down syndrome
3. Urinary bladder obstruction in posterior urethral valve
4. Idiopathic( no cause is found).
Your doctor might have ruled out other congenital anomalies in the fetus by a detailed ultrasound.
If there are no congenital anomalies or other markers of chromosomal anomalies in the ultrasound, then the chance of chromosomal anomalies in the fetus are not there.
Renal anomalies are also ruled out in ultrasound.
If the fetal hydronephrosis is not increasing in subsequent ultrasounds, then there is no reason to worry.
Your baby should get a postnatal ultrasound to assess the hydronephrosis and a X Ray to assess the renal function.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
So it is not due to maternal hormone (or) due to diet not containing diuretic vegetables right?
1,2,4 conditions are not seen in the scans. I dont understand 3 but the scan said it may be due to PUJ obstruction (Not confirmed). Since the right renal pelvis size increased i am worried.
Thanks,
XXXX
1,2,4 conditions are not seen in the scans. I dont understand 3 but the scan said it may be due to PUJ obstruction (Not confirmed). Since the right renal pelvis size increased i am worried.
Thanks,
XXXX
Brief Answer:
Unilateral PUJ obstruction is not worrisome
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
no, fetal hydronephrosis is not due to maternal hormones or not taking diuretic containing vegetables.
The number 3 is urinary bladder outlet obstruction, the commonest cause of which is the posterior urethral valve.It is diagnosed easily in ultrasound and causes bilateral fetal hydronephrosis.
PUJ obstruction is the pelvic ureterojunction obstruction, and it is an obstructive lesion between the collecting system of kidney and the ureter. Unilateral PUJ obstruction is not worrisome, and it can resolve spontaneously after birth. The baby needs to have proper postnatal ultrasounds and investigations.
I suggest you not to worry so much.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
Unilateral PUJ obstruction is not worrisome
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
no, fetal hydronephrosis is not due to maternal hormones or not taking diuretic containing vegetables.
The number 3 is urinary bladder outlet obstruction, the commonest cause of which is the posterior urethral valve.It is diagnosed easily in ultrasound and causes bilateral fetal hydronephrosis.
PUJ obstruction is the pelvic ureterojunction obstruction, and it is an obstructive lesion between the collecting system of kidney and the ureter. Unilateral PUJ obstruction is not worrisome, and it can resolve spontaneously after birth. The baby needs to have proper postnatal ultrasounds and investigations.
I suggest you not to worry so much.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. Deepti Verma
OBGYN, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Practicing since :2009
Answered : 5064 Questions
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