Epidemiological and clinical characteristics, management, and outcomes of antenatal hydronephrosis: A single-centre experience of 229 cases

Abstract

The advances in utilization of USG in antenatal routine follow-up resulted with increased diagnosis of antenatal hydronephrosis (ANH). This study was conducted to elaborate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics, management, outcomes, and possible risk factors of the ANH. A total of 229 cases diagnosed with ANH during the antenatal follow-up at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of OndokuzMayis University between 2004 and 2022 were included. The ANH was defined as an USG finding suggesting a hydronephrosis 7 mm. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics, risk factors, treatment and outcomes in the postnatal period were assessed retrospectively. About 75% of the cases were male, 8% were premature births, and the mean gestational week of diagnosis was 22±3 weeks. About 43.7% of mothers had urinary tract infections, and family history of a kidney disease was present in 24.5% of mothers’ and 20.5% of fathers’ family histories.38.7% of cases undergone surgery. At the end of 6-month follow-up, 37.3% had regressed and 38.7% of them had stable hydronephrosis, and 18.9% of them had normal findings in USG. Male gender, increased gestational urinary tract infections, and family histories of parents for a kidney disease were found as possible risk factors for development of ANH. Close follow-up and timely intervention including surgery provides favorable outcomes in these cases.