Renal function and solitary kidney disease: Wilms tumour survivors versus patients with unilateral renal agenesis.

AIMS: To test the hypothesis that Wilms tumour survivors (WTs) experience increased disturbance in renal function, even after prompt treatment, compared to patients with unilateral renal agenesis (URA).

METHODS

To assess the renal function of 30 WTs and 17 individuals with URA, the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Schwartz and Filler formulas as well as the new Schwartz equation for chronic kidney disease. To measure kidney damage, serum levels and urine excretion of β(2)-microglobulin (B2M), cystatin C (Cys C), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were tested, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG), and albumin urine excretion and urine sediment were examined. Blood pressure was measured.

RESULTS

No differences were found between the groups in terms of eGFR, serum Cys C, B2M and NGAL concentrations. The urine excretion of Cys C, NGAL and NAG was similar in both groups. URA patients had higher B2M excretion than WTs. Arterial hypertension was present in 7/30 (23%) WTs and 1/17 (6%) patients with URA.

CONCLUSIONS

WTs have similar eGFR to individuals with URA and are more likely to have arterial hypertension. The patients with URA have signs of tubular damage. This study demonstrates the need for nephrological monitoring of individuals with a single kidney.