Dilated Renal Pelvis

[TraceyG]

I've just had my 20 week scan, and have been told that one of the baby's kidneys is large (7.2mm). I've also been told that it's not a big deal, though it could indicate an increased risk of Downs!
I'm worried, but don't know if I'm fussing over nothing, or if I should be pushing for more info / tests.
Has anyone else had this problem?
Any medical types out there who can advise?

DS2 had a dilated kidney on a 38 week growth scan. He just had to have precautionary antibiotics when he was born plus follow up scans at 4 weeks (I think) after birth. Never mentioned Downs and the docs were never overly worried about it, just said it needed checking.

He was, of course, absolutely fine and I was a stressed out nervous wreck from carting him up to the hospital and waiting for answers!

TraceyG - this is very common, so try not to worry about it. Our scanning techniques are becoming far more sophisticated these days, and consequently picking up more and more. who knows how many of us had dilated renal pelves in the womb?!! Bottom line is, more and more babies are being detected with this ante natally, which suggests it is not as 'unusual' or as abnormal as some think - who knows, it may just be part of normal development.
All I know is, a great no. of these babies have further scans inlater pregnancy, and the 'problem' has resolved. With some it persists, and they then have a scan postnatally to see if it is resolving - if not, the baby is given trimethoprim in small doses to help. This usually clears the problem. If not, a referral will be made to a renal specialist, who will probably just monitor the resolution of the condition. HTH
P.S Probably naive, but I've never heard it associated with Downs syndrome either

My first baby had pyeostasis (I think that's the technical term for enlarged renal pelvis). It is correlated with chromosonal abnormalities (you can look up on the Internet). The diagnosis was deeply upsetting to me.

The following week (21 weeks) I had the world's nicest consultant give the fetus a detailed scan. We even watched the heart beat in colour. His verdict was that the baby almost certainly just had an "asymetry", like having one leg longer than the other. I had 3 extra scans just in case, and one after the birth. The consultant's main concern was that no sort of blockage develop between kidneys and bladder. The scans stressed me so much that following pregnancy I insisted on not being told at all if the fetus had less than two soft markers ....

But pyeostatis baby was born fine... afterwards I realised that many of my relatives had internal abnormalities (like my mom had one perfectly healthy kidney that wasn't plumbed in at all, and my nephew's internal organs are all swapped around (heart on right side, etc.)). Heaven knows what they would find wrong with me...!

Easier said than done, I know, but try not to worry.

I am glad you said that Leese about Down's syndrome because I was not aware of that being a marker either. It is usually identified as something needing to be observed to see if it resolves. Agree with the rest of your post.
ps. I am feeling a lot better but still off work. Am actually enjoying being a SAHM for a while

Zebra, it's interesting you say that your nephew's heart etc are on the wrong side as one of my dad's cousins has this too. I've never heard of it before (not that I've bene looking out for it)

mears - Phew! Was sure you'd say it has long been associated with Downs syndrome, the how daft would I feel?!
Good to hear you're feeling a little better. whats happening in the work arena at the mo'?

Just waiting for a meeting to be organised between all interested parties. Difficult to organise due to diary committments (not mine). This time off has actually ben helpful to let me examine all that has happened, and how I want it resolved. Feeling much more positive.

Good Keep your chin up - as you said previously, this woman does not deserve the time allocated to her in your thoughts. Know we're all behind you

Dear TracyG,
at my 22 week scan my ds2 was also found to have a larger kidney by some mm compared to the other. What happened to me/him was I was sent for another scan about 2 months later to see how it was doing. It had got bigger....but don't panic if this happens to you, because it will get bigger by nature because the baby is getting bigger, if you follow what I mean. it's the difference between the two that is the factor to watch. My ds condition did get bigger at each scan and it was a real worry. His condition is called Kidney renal dilalation (if you search on that you will find my threads of when I too was worried) but now I've had so many scans & consultations that it all makes sense & truly is nothing to worry about it is very common. AT NO TIME WAS I TOLD THERE IS A CONNECTION WITH DOWNS.

Our outcome on the condition is still on going & is almost spot on to what leese or mears said (can't remember which). Basically we had loads of scans to check its progress. Then once he was born he was put on the antibiotic that Leese or mears mentioned begining with T. It is a safe guard to help prevent any urine infections as the kidney can be affected by these infections. He has a dose every evening and it is worked out by his weight so has increased over time. He also had a scan when he was born to get a clearer picture as scanning through me is a guideline but much clearer done on the baby himself. I'm rambling on here but I'm trying to give you as much info as I can remember as it was all such a worry to me at the time & if someone could have told me exactly what was going to happen to me & my baby I would have felt so much more at ease.....Anyway because the dialation of my ds kidney was quite large he has had to be monitored quite regularly...he's had so many scans I can't remember how many. He also had to have a special x-ray where they take hundreds of quick photos over a period of 20 mins to see exactly what the kidney is doing - the letter we got sent telling us about this procedure (a MAG8) sounded horrid...it in fact was very non intrusive and my ds actually slept all the way through it bless him. The other x-ray procedure (name fails my memory) was a bit more intense & not a nice experience but was over fairly quickly. Ds was fine & happy alot soon than his blubbering mother!
Most cases of this condition clear up themselves over a period of time and scans are taken every 3 months to check it is correcting itself. They allow the baby upto a year to correct itself but if they haven't started to decrease the difference by then it is fairly obvious they won't so intervention is required by surgery.They also wait until about a year old to perform the surgery for other reasons (mainly I assume so the bits & pieces are easier to actually see by that age) My ds did not correct himself and is now on waiting list for surgery. I will stop waffling now & hope I haven't made you doze off as my purpose was to try & inform you so you have no worries & to help you not be so anxious. if there are any other concerns you may have let me know as I've had a lot of dealings with this now, although i'm not a medical expert I can relate to your concerns. BTW my ds is now 11 & half months old & a very happy chappy..its hard sometimes to remember he has a problem going on inside him.

How are you dixie - it is a long time since your last posting. Sounds as though you are really on top of all the kidney problems of ds. Good to see you posting

Mears...it has been a while I know..I've been so busy adjusting to my circumstances that I've not really had time to come on here at all. I'm doing ok. I still find it extremely hard even more so since I returned to work but I'm doing ok. I still have my low moments but not so near as many. Can you believe ds2 is almost a year old! That inself brings back some tough memories to deal with but time is proving a great healer. Its also quite upsetting to see similar circumstances occurring on other threads.....some men just have no backbone or concept of commitment but I know not all are like that. Infact I am in a new relationship with a truly truly wonderful guy who I could happily type you all a hundred page essay on as he is so wonderful. (couldn't believe anyone would be prepared to take me on with two such small children but he really dotes on them & has an amazing bond with the youngest! Ds2 probably sees him more than he sees his own father).