Learn About Medullary Sponge Kidney Disease
Medullary sponge kidney disease is a disorder of the kidney that is present at birth. However, symptoms or problems as a result of the disorder do not surface until later in life. Commonly referred to as MSK, the condition is not believed to be inherited. According to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC), only one out of every 5,000 to 20,000 individuals will suffer from this condition. Although MSK can cause other kidney conditions, many of the complications will not become life-threatening.
What Causes MSK?
The kidney consists of an area called the medulla. In the medulla, there are tubules (collecting ducts) the urine must flow through on its way to the bladder. Sometime before birth, sacs appear within these tubes, giving the medulla the appearance of a sponge. More significant, these tiny sacs are actually cysts that block the flow of urine in the kidney. MSK is considered a birth defect, because this condition develops while the kidneys are developing in the unborn fetus.
Common Symptoms
A large number of individuals suffering from this disorder will not exhibit any symptoms at all and when/if they do, may easily mistake them for something else. This is because symptoms of medullary sponge kidney disease are typically associated with a kidney or bladder infection. Physiologically, the individual may experience burning or pain while urinating. However, pain may also be experienced in the groin region or in the lower back and abdomen. In addition to these responses, the color, odor, and clarity of the urine may not be normal. Urine may become dark and/or cloudy and have a strong unpleasant odor. Those with MSK may also have blood in the urine. Other symptoms include fever, chills, and in some patients, vomiting.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The diagnostic procedures for medullay sponge kidney disease typically involve an intravenous pyelogram, or IVP. This is a type of x-ray in which dye is injected into the vein. When the dye is filtered in urinary system, the x-ray can show whether or not the patient has any type of blockage or cyst. Currently, MSK can not be “cured.” Rather, the physician focuses on treating any current problems that are a result of the condition, and preventing future infections and/or kidney stones.
References
Medullary Sponge Kidney. National Kidney and Urological Diseases Information Clearinghouse. NIH Publication No. 08-6235. July 2008. Viewed 28, December 2009. https://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/medullaryspongekidney/.
MedScape. Medullary Sponge Kidney. Author: Howard Trachtman, MD. Program Director, Pediatrics Research, Schneider Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, Professor, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Updated 4, November 2009. Viewed 28, December 2009. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/982470-overview
