obstructive nephropathy

Obstructive nephropathy refers to a disease in which urinary flow obstruction causes damage to renal function and parenchyma. The lesion is often unilateral, but in many cases it can also be bilateral. Urinary tract obstruction is usually an important cause of obstructive nephropathy, but if the obstruction does not affect the renal parenchyma, it is generally not called obstructive nephropathy but rather obstructive uropathy. Hydronephrosis is usually a clinical manifestation of obstructive nephropathy, but many obstructive nephropathies (e.g., intrarenal obstruction) do not necessarily have hydronephrosis. At the same time, many conditions, especially congenital ureteral malformations, may show renal pelvis dilation on examination without necessarily having hydronephrosis.