Who gets it?
Retroperitoneal fibrosis may occur at any age, but most cases occur in people ages 40-60. It is three times more common in men than in women, and occurs in people of all ethnic backgrounds around the world.
Symptoms
In the early stage of the disease the symptoms, such as back pain or fatigue, come from the disease itself. In the later stages, the symptoms are related to the mass of fibrous tissue pressing on parts of the abdomen, such as the kidneys or abdominal aorta. Symptoms in the later stages may include:
- Pain in the side, back, or lower abdomen
- Lack of appetite, weight loss
- Nausea and vomiting
- High blood pressure
- Urinary problems such as frequent urination or blood in the urine
Diagnosis
It is often hard to diagnose retroperitoneal fibrosis because there are no specific symptoms for the disease. Also, many different types of illnesses may cause the symptoms listed above. Computed tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide clear pictures of the fibrous masses of the disease for diagnosis.
Treatment
Surgery can be done to remove some or all of the mass of fibrous tissue, especially if it is pressing on parts of the kidney or abdominal aorta. Some physicians may also treat the disease with steroids such as prednisone. Others have found immunosuppressive drugs such as azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), or tamoxifen to be helpful for treatment.
Information for this article was taken from:
Khan, A. N. (2002). Retroperitoneal fibrosis. eMedicine, accessed at http://www.emedicine.com/radio/topic605.htm
