Obstructive nephropathy

Abstract

Obstructive uropathy (OU) is a common condition in the elderly, particularly in men due to prostate disease. Besides the reversible effects of acute urinary tract obstruction on kidney function, with reduction of renal blood flow (RBF), glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and a tubular dysfunction, chronic obstruction can additionally cause permanent kidney injury. In this context, prolonged and untreated OU results in obstructive nephropathy (ON). ON is a nonspecific tubulointerstitial nephropathy, which can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD) and to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ON is one of the leading causes of ESRD in the elderly. Experimental ON models ureteral obstruction-mediated kidney injury and helps unravel key processes of the CKD pathogenesis. Apart from reversing obstruction, treatment strategies of ON consist of selective targeting on molecular mechanisms implicated in apoptosis, inflammation, and renal fibrosis. © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.