Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare condition caused by tissue overgrowth behind the stomach and intestines, which can block the ureters and cause kidney damage. It is often associated with autoimmune diseases, and symptoms include pain, leg swelling, and decreased urine output. Treatment involves a combination of surgery and medication, with corticosteroids and tamoxifen being used to reduce inflammation. Laparoscopic surgery is the most effective treatment, but there is no standard treatment protocol.
Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare condition caused by an overgrowth of tissue behind the stomach and intestines. This condition develops if tissue overgrowth blocks the ureters, the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Retroperitoneal fibrosis is associated with cancer in about eight percent of cases, but up to 70 percent of cases are idiopathic and have no known cause.
There is no conclusive evidence that indicates a definitive cause of retroperitoneal fibrosis, but it is often associated with the presence of autoimmune diseases. One theory is that autoimmune disease occurs because the immune system attacks proteins contained in atherosclerosis plaques. According to this theory, leftover plaques release proteins into the surrounding tissue and stimulate an immune reaction that results in inflammation and the eventual buildup of fibrous scar tissue.
In the early stages, symptoms of retroperitoneal fibrosis include dull pain in the back, lower abdomen, or side; leg pain; decreased blood flow causing a change in the color of the legs; and leg swelling, typically in one leg. If the condition does not receive immediate treatment, urine output gradually decreases as the kidneys fail. If you have kidney failure, symptoms include nausea, vomiting, and confused thinking. If the intestinal tissue begins to die, bleeding and severe abdominal pain can occur. Possible complications of the condition include venous inflammation, which can lead to deep vein thrombosis; jaundice; testicular swelling; bowel obstruction; and spinal cord compression.
Kidney damage can be permanent if not treated promptly. This is a particular problem due to the difficulty of diagnosing this condition early enough to prevent damage. Early symptoms are nonspecific, resulting in a relatively lengthy diagnostic process and risk of permanent kidney disease.
The most effective treatment for retroperitoneal fibrosis is a combination of surgery and other types of therapy, such as medications and symptom management. The most important aspects of treatment are to preserve kidney function as much as possible and to ensure that other organs are not affected. Even so, there are no generally accepted treatment regimens for this condition.
In terms of medications, corticosteroids are used to reduce inflammation in the early stages of the disease. Tamoxifen, an anti-estrogen drug, has also shown positive effects in reducing symptoms. However, both drugs have risks for long-term use and are therefore used on a case-by-case basis rather than being part of a standard treatment protocol. Immunotherapy drugs with greater specificity and fewer long-term side effects than steroids are in the experimental stage.
The most effective surgical treatment involves laparoscopic surgery to remove and rebuild the fibrous tissue masses. This type of intervention is preferable to open surgery, because the latter is much more invasive and risky, with a mortality rate of almost 10 percent. Another possible surgical procedure involves temporary or permanent fitting of the ureters with shunts to keep them open and prevent urine blockage.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
