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Alternative names Return to top
Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis; Ormond's diseaseDefinition Return to top
Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a disorder in which the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder are blocked by a fibrous mass in the back of the abdomen.Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top
Retroperitoneal fibrosis is a rare disorder caused by the proliferation of fibrous tissue in the area of the body behind the stomach. Doctors don't know why the masses form. It is most common in people aged 40-60, and men are twice as likely to be affected as women.
The disorder may cause chronic unilateral obstructive uropathy or chronic bilateral obstructive uropathy, which result when the fibrous mass blocks the ureters.The symptoms are caused by this obstruction of the ureters.
Symptoms Return to top
Early symptoms:
Later symptoms:
Signs and tests Return to top
Treatment Return to top
Surgery to remove the mass and free the ureters may be required. In some cases, the ureters will be moved to a different position in the body or wrapped in fat tissue harvested from other areas to prevent recurrence of the fibrosis.
Stents (drainage tubes) placed in the ureter or in the renal pelvis may provide short-term relief of the symptoms until the mass can be removed.
Corticosteroid therapy may help if surgery can't be done due to other medical conditions.
Some doctors use the drug tamoxifen to treat this condition.
Expectations (prognosis) Return to top
Prognosis depends on the extent of the fibrosis and the amount of damage to the kidneys. The kidney damage may be temporary or permanent.Complications Return to top
Calling your health care provider Return to top
Call your health care provider if you experience lower abdomen or flank pain, particularly with decreased urine volume.Prevention Return to top
If possible, avoid prolonged use of medications which contain methysergide, which has been shown to cause retroperitoneal fibrosis. Update Date: 8/18/2003 Updated by: David Webner, M.D., Sports Medicine Fellow, Crozer-Keystone Family Practice Program, Springfield, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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Page last updated: 28 October 2004 |