What is kidney shrinkage?

Kidney shrinkage (atrophic kidney or kidney shrinking) refers to the shrinkage in the size of one or both kidneys. Kidney size can reflect kidney function: larger or smaller than the normal kidney size indicates the dysfunction of kidney. When kidney begins to shrink, the disease may develop into renal insufficiency or uremia. In early stage, kidney shrinkage is asymptomatic. Only patients’ kidney function is below 50%, can patients feel some symptoms.

There are three common causes of kidney shrinkage: congenital renal dysplasia, end stage kidney disease and chronic pyelonephritis.

1.Congenital renal dysplasia

Due to obstacles of blood supply in embryonic period or other reasons, renal tissue can’t develop sufficiently. Hypogenetic kidney is less than 50% of the normal kidney size.

2.End stage kidney disease

When the disease develops into end stage kidney disease, serum creatinine and urea nitrogen usually reach a high level. Nephrons, the functional tissues of kidney, suffer damage. Kidney will shrink.

3.Chronic pyelonephritis