Ascites: a new cause of hydronephrosis?

Abstract

For the first time in literature we present a case with obstructive renal insufficiency produced by high-pressure ascites in a 38 year old female. Urography and computed tomography demonstrated a large prolapse of the pelvic floor causing obstruction of ureters. Even when the pelvic prolapse is a well known cause of ureterohydronephrosis, in this case it was the high pressure that produced the bilateral obstruction of ureters—that were not compressed by the uterus. Paracentesis improved the renal function of the patient. Thus, ascites could be listed as a very rare but possible cause of hydronephrosis.