Ureteropelvic junction obstruction: morphological and clinical studies

This study included 27 patients with ureteropelvic (UPJ) obstruction. Both renal parenchyma and the junctional abnormality were examined and correlated with clinical findings. Renal biopsies were categorized into grades 1–4. Those with normal or minimal findings (grade 1 and 2, respectively) had excellent renal function as assessed by radionuclide studies. Those with grade 4 had severe histological abnormalities associated with poor renal function. Grade 3 renal changes were seen in patients whose renal function varied greatly and did not correlate with the extent of the limited histological abnormalities. Although there was great variation in the renal biopsies, glomerulosclerosis was a consistent finding, associated with extracapillary proliferation and periodic acid-Schiff-positive material (? Tamm-Horsfall protein) in the urinary space of glomeruli in 91% (10/11) of grade 3 or 4 renal biopsies. No extracapillary proliferation was seen in grade 1 renal biopsies. The UPJ obstruction area was consistently inflamed and markedly thickened due to varying degrees of perifascicular fibrosis and muscular hypertrophy. Extensive fibrosis with associated muscular atrophy was the most-severe change in this spectrum.