Question Title: Unilateral ureteral obstruction

I'm not sure if my question exactly fits into this category, but
I really would like an answer, if possible. This has been sort
of nagging me all my life. When I was only one month old, it was
found that my right kidney was very enlarged (the size of an adult
fist) due to a blocked ureter, so the kidney was removed. I am
now 35 years old and in good general health, although my blood
pressure has been a little high recently.

Obviously, the left kidney has hypertrophied and is now approx.
1 and 1/2 times the size of a normal adult's kidney. I have heard
various rumors that people with only one kidney (particularly one
that has hypertrophied) have a lowered life expectancy. Is this
true? And are there any specific dietary or lifestyle precautions
I should be taking to ensure continued good health? I have had
the kidney's functioning ability checked twice: four years ago
the BUN/creatinine clearance test was 85, but two years ago it
was 105. I know that Donna (see below) has posted a question
that might seem similar to mine, but my situation is different,
because I have been almost my entire life with one kidney. Thanks
for any insights!

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Dear Peter,

Removal of one kidney ( nephrectomy) is a very common procedure that is performed for a number of reasons. Nephrectomy results in compensatory increase in the size and function of the remaining kidney if the kidney loss is early in life. The long-term ( lifetime ) risk associated with nephrectomy is mainly hypertension. However people with one kidney should avoid contact sports ( football , hockey ) and high risk activities.
There is a substantial amount of data mainly in the transplant literature regarding the life expectancy of normal people after nephrectomy. There is no evidence that the life expectancy is shortened. You may require long-term medical therapy to treat any resultant hypertension. This information is provided for general medical education purposes only. Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653 6568).

HFHS MD-KR
*keyword : renal function, nephrectomy

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