National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Renal agenesis

The following summary is from Orphanet, a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.
orphanet

Orpha Number: 411709

Definition
Renal agenesis (RA) is a form of renal tract malformation characterized by the complete absence of development of one or both kidneys (unilateral RA or bilateral RA respectively; see these terms), accompanied by absent ureter(s).

Epidemiology
The annual incidence of RA is estimated at around 1/2,000. Fetal prevalence of bilateral renal agenesis in Europe has been estimated at 1/8,500.

Clinical description
Most patients with unilateral RA are asymptomatic if the other kidney is fully functional and the disease is commonly detected as a chance observation. However, hypertension, proteinuria and renal failure may develop in the long run (20-50% of cases at the age of 30). Unilateral RA is occasionally associated with genital tract anomalies on the same side (e.g. seminal vesicle hypoplasia and absence of the vas deferens), cardiac anomalies (such as atrial or ventricular septal defects) and/or gastrointestinal anomalies (such as anal atresia). Bilateral RA is characterized by complete absence of kidney development, absent ureters and subsequent absence of fetal renal function resulting in Potter sequence with pulmonary hypoplasia related to oligohydramnios, which is fatal shortly after birth.

Etiology
Renal agenesis results from a developmental failure of the ureteric bud and the metanephric mesenchyme. Unilateral renal agenesis can be caused by mutations in many genes, such as RET (10q11.2), BMP4 (14q22-q23), FRAS1 (4q21.21), FREM1 (9p22.3), or UPK3A (22q13.31). A few cases of bilateral renal agenesis have been found to be caused by mutations in the RET, FGF20 (8p22) or ITGA8 (10p13) genes. Maternal diabetes mellitus or use of specific drugs during pregnancy can also result in renal agenesis.

Genetic counseling
In familial cases, unilateral RA is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with incomplete penetrance. Bilateral RA is inherited autosomal recessively.

Visit the Orphanet disease page for more resources.
Last updated: 7/1/2014

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Unilateral renal agenesis
Absent kidney on one side
Missing one kidney
Single kidney
[ more ] 		0000122
Ureteral agenesis 0012300
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Absent vas deferens 0012873
Anal atresia
Absent anus
0002023
Aplasia/Hypoplasia of the bladder
Absent/small bladder
Absent/underdeveloped bladder
[ more ] 		0010476
Aplasia/hypoplasia of the uterus
Absent/small uterus
Absent/underdeveloped uterus
[ more ] 		0008684
Bilateral renal agenesis 0010958
Hypertension 0000822
Oligohydramnios
Low levels of amniotic fluid
0001562
Potter facies 0002009
Proteinuria
High urine protein levels
Protein in urine
[ more ] 		0000093
Pulmonary hypoplasia
Small lung
Underdeveloped lung
[ more ] 		0002089
Renal insufficiency
Renal failure
Renal failure in adulthood
[ more ] 		0000083
Talipes equinovarus
Club feet
Club foot
Clubfeet
Clubfoot
[ more ] 		0001762
Ventricular septal defect
Hole in heart wall separating two lower heart chambers
0001629
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

In-Depth Information

  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.
  • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Renal agenesis. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.

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