Bilateral renal agenesis is a congenital condition which is typified by the non-appearance of the kidneys at birth. The kidneys do not develop in the fetus. Bilateral renal agenesis manifests as absence of kidneys and the urinary bladder as well as an insufficiency of amniotic fluid in the pregnant woman.
Treatment of the condition is unsuccessful, and death occurs within a couple of hours after birth.
What Causes Bilateral Renal Agenesis?
Bilateral Renal Agenesis is frequently seen in babies who are born to parents who have some kind of kidney malformation. Also, it is commoner in males. It is a congenital genetic condition.
It is essential for you to be aware of the fact that if you have a risk factor, it does not automatically signify that you will develop the disorder. A risk factor definitely raises your chance of getting a particular disorder compared to someone who does not have any risk factors. What’s more, not having a risk factor does not necessarily signify that you will not get a condition. It is vital for you to talk about and consider the effect of risk factors with your OB/GYN.
Bilateral renal agenesis is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. An autosomal dominant condition is one which manifests only when the non sex chromosome inherits only one copy of the mutation. In such cases, the individual usually has one normal copy and one mutant copy of the gene. The anomalous gene will dominate, and will mask the effect of the properly functioning gene.
In case an individual has an autosomal dominant disorder, his or her risk of passing on the anomalous gene to his or her offspring is 50 %. Children, who do not inherit the anomalous gene, will not develop the disorder nor will they pass it on to their offspring.
Symptoms Of Bilateral Renal Agenesis
The clinical manifestations of bilateral renal agenesis are:
- An insufficiency of amniotic fluid in a pregnant woman.
- The kidneys as well as the urinary bladder are absent in the developing fetus.
- A physical examination and an evaluation of family history for kidney malformations.
- A fetal anomaly sonogram needs to be carried out during the 20th week of pregnancy; it will help detect the absence of the kidneys, urinary bladder and amniotic fluid. Your OB/GYN will conduct further investigations to exclude other clinical conditions and establish a correct diagnosis.
How To Deal With Bilateral Renal Agenesis?
Sadly, the treatment for bilateral renal agenesis is hopeless. The newborn always dies within a couple of hours after birth. There are no specific methods to prevent the condition, given that; it is a genetic condition,
Genetic testing of the parents along with a prenatal diagnosis – molecular testing of the fetus helps comprehend the risks better during the pregnancy. In case of a family history of the condition, genetic counseling will help calculate your risks, before you plan for a child.
You need to discuss and understand everything from your OB/GYN. An ultrasound evaluation in the initial months of pregnancy may disclose the anomaly / deficiency in the fetus. The outcome of bilateral renal agenesis is very poor; neonatal deaths are inevitable.