Left renal atrophy.

BACKGROUND

We tried to understand whether or not there is a higher risk of left renal atrophy in human being.

METHODS

All patients applying to the Hematology Service with any underlying complaint were studied.

RESULTS

The study included 2,417 cases (1,248 females). The mean ages were 47.3 versus 50.7 years in females and males, respectively (p<0.000). There were 33 cases (1.3%) with the left renal atrophy against five cases (0.2%) with the right (p<0.001). The left renal atrophy cases have splenomegaly (SM) in 51.5%, thalassemia minors (TMs) in 30.3%, sickle cell diseases (SCDs) in 27.2%, myeloproliferative disorders in 18.1%, chronic lymphocytic leukemia in 6.0%, cirrhosis in 6.0%, solid organ malignancies in 6.0%, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in 3.0%, multiple myeloma in 3.0%, and Waldenström's macroglobulinemia in 3.0%. Similarly, the right renal atrophy cases have SM in 20.0%, TMs in 40.0%, and SCDs in 20.0%.

CONCLUSION

Left renal atrophy may be significantly higher than the right side in human being. Aortic pressure induced flow disorders in the left renal vein, structural anomalies of the left renal vein, and possibly the higher arterial pressure of the left kidney due to the shorter distance to the heart as an underlying cause of atherosclerosis may be some of the possible causes. Due to the stronger arterial wall protecting itself from compression and high prevalences of SM and left varicocele in population, SM induced flow disorders of the left renal vein may be the most common cause.