Causes

Hydronephrosis is usually caused by a blockage in the urinary tract or something disrupting the normal workings of the urinary tract.

The urinary tract is made up of the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters (the tubes that run from the kidney to the bladder) and the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body).

A blockage or problem in the urinary tract can mean urine is unable to drain from the kidneys or is able to flow the wrong way up into the kidneys.

This can lead to a build-up of urine in the kidneys, causing them to become stretched and swollen.

Causes of hydronephrosis in adults

Some of the main causes of hydronephrosis in adults include:

Less commonly, the urinary tract can become blocked or squashed by a blood clot or ovarian cysts (fluid-filled sacs in the ovaries).

Causes of antenatal hydronephrosis in babies

Sometimes it is not clear why hydronephrosis develops in unborn babies (antenatal hydronephrosis).

It's thought it often may be caused by an increase in the amount of urine your baby produces in the later stages of pregnancy.

Usually, the kidneys themselves are normal and the condition gets better by itself before or within a few months of birth.

In some cases, it can be caused by:

Babies that are born with ANH may need to be treated with antibiotics to prevent kidney infections, but some problems will get better on their own.

It's very rare for hydronephrosis in babies and children to be caused by a tumour or kidney stones.

Page last reviewed: 1 December 2021
Next review due: 1 December 2024