Causal link between neonatal hydronephrosis and later development of hypertension

Summary 1. Although congenital ureteral obstruction is a common disorder in infants, its pathophysiology remains poorly understood and its clinical management continues to be debated. During the past decade, the surgical management of non‐symptomatic hydronephrosis in children has become more conservative, but the long‐term physiological consequences of this new policy are unclear. 2. In experimental models with complete ureteral obstruction, tubular atrophy and interstitial inflammation occur rapidly. Although this type of obstruction is very rare in clinical practice, it is often referred to in clinical discussions. New studies, using a model with chronic partial ureteral obstruction, have demonstrated that hydronephrosis is associated with renal injuries and is causally related to hypertension. 3. The mechanisms underlying the development of hypertension in experimental hydronephrosis are complex and involve changes in both the renin–angiotensin system and renal sympathetic nerve activity. Furthermore, oxidative stress and nitric oxide deficiency in the diseased kidney, with consequent resetting of the tubuloglomerular feedback mechanism, appear to play a pivotal role in the development and maintenance of hyper‐tension. 4. In view of the new knowledge regarding the long‐term effects of partial ureteral obstruction, today’s non‐operative management of hydronephrosis should be reconsidered to prevent obstructive nephropathy and hypertension in later life.