Cause Of An Ectopic Kidney

The birth defect known as ectopic kidney occurs in approximately one out of every one thousand births and is the condition in which the baby is born with one kidney that is not located in its normal position within the body.

It is possible for this condition to go unnoticed as it may not cause any symptoms and may remain undiscovered until the individual has some form of testing done typically for another medical condition.

Many individuals do not experience any issues with this type of birth defect; however, others can develop problems involving the urinary tract such as urinary stones, urinary blockage, or infections. 

What causes the Occurrence of an Ectopic Kidney? 

In the normal development process of the kidneys in the fetus, they begin inside the pelvis as tiny "buds".  During the development process the kidneys normally "climb" to their proper location which is in the back near the area of the rib cage.

In some instances one of the kidneys fails to "climb" to its proper position and may remain in the pelvis or begin to "climb" and stop somewhere in between the pelvis and its normal location.

In the majority of cases only one of the kidneys is affected and the other one reaches its normal position but in rare cases it is possible for both kidneys to be ectopic. Occasionally, one kidney may cross over when climbing towards the rib cage and grow into or become fused with other kidney causing both kidneys to develop on one side of the body. 

Complications that can occur when having an Ectopic Kidney 

In many cases an ectopic kidney will cause no issues to the individual and will function normally, however, in other cases complications may arise due its abnormal position within the body. A common problem that can occur when a kidney is in an abnormal position is "reflux" or "vesicoureteral reflux" which is when urine flows backward from the bladder into the kidney.

This abnormal flow can cause numerous problems as urine typically washes out the bacteria from our system and keeps it away from the urinary tract and the kidneys. When the urine remains in the urinary tract or the kidneys this bacteria can multiply and spread causing infections of the urinary tract to occur. 

Urinary tract infections typically cause the symptoms of frequent urination that is sometimes painful, fever, chills, abdominal or back pain, and the urine may appear cloudy or have an unusual odor.

Another condition that can occur when urine remain in the urinary tract is urinary stones that are formed from the build up of substances such as oxalate and calcium and can cause the symptoms of pain or burning when urinating, blood in the urine,  vomiting,  fever, chills, and extreme pain in the pelvis, side, or back.

When urine backs ups into the kidneys it can cause severe damage to the kidneys leading to kidney failure. When the kidneys are not functioning properly they are unable to properly filter the waste from our system causing it to back up. When this occurs it can cause many symptoms including fatigue, swelling of the abdomen or legs, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. 

Individuals who have an ectopic kidney located in the area of the pelvis or lower abdomen are more susceptible to blunt trauma of the kidney due to injury and should ensure to take extra precautions by using protective gear when participating in sporting activities - especially contact sports.