Renal Agenesis

I've just discovered (thru CT Scan) I have congenital unilateral renal agenesis (absent kidney).  I'm a military member (U.S.)and generally in good health.  Will this condition disqualify me from military service?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

I do not work for the US miltary so I do not know what the conditions are for disqualification.  However, I can give information about the prognosis of the disorder.  

Renal agenesis refers to congenital absence of the kidney and ureter, which may be either unilateral or bilateral.  Unilateral renal agenesis has been noted in 1/1000 autopsies.  

The prognosis for patients with one normal kidney is excellent, with a survival rate similar to that of age and sex-matched controls from United States life tables. However, proteinuria (i.e. protein in the urine), hypertension, and renal insufficiency appear to be more common later in life.  Most pediatric urologists recommend that children with a solitary kidney avoid contact sports, although the risk of kidney loss resulting from trauma is less than 1 percent.  

I am not sure if that last statement would be relevent in active duty.  You may want to address this issue with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

Bibliography:
Ozcan et al.  Renal agenesis.  UptoDate, 2004.

[MAMA72]

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[bruntoncat]

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