Horseshoe kidney: Signs, causes, and life expectancy Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Horseshoe kidney Signs causes and moreMedically reviewed by William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS — By Lauren Hellicar on August 7, 2022Horseshoe kidney is a congenital condition that causes the kidneys to fuse together. This occurs before birth while a fetus is still growing. Another name for the condition is renal fusion. Researchers are not certain why some babies develop horseshoe kidney. Exposure to certain drugs or alcohol in the uterus may play a role. It is also more common in people with specific chromosomal disorders. Some people are unaware that they have horseshoe kidney and do not have symptoms. Others may develop symptoms or complications, which can range from mild to serious. Read on for more information about horseshoe kidney, including the symptoms, treatment, risks, and impact on quality of life. What is horseshoe kidney Share on PinterestKemal Yildirim/Getty ImagesHorseshoe kidney is a condition that develops when a fetus is still growing inside the uterus. Usually, two individual kidneys form in the fetus’s lower belly. They slowly move up to take their final position at the back of the body on either side of the spine, just below the ribs. Horseshoe kidney, or renal fusion, occurs when two individual kidneys fuse together as they rise from the lower belly. In 9 out of 10 cases, the kidneys fuse at the bottom, forming a “U” shape. Renal fusion is the most common type of fused kidney problem, but it is still relatively rare, occurring in roughly 1 in every 500 people. Is horseshoe kidney dangerous Horseshoe kidney, in itself, is typically not dangerous. It does not usually affect how the kidneys work. However, it does raise the risk of certain complications. Fused kidneys tend to be positioned more toward the front of the body than unfused kidneys, which makes the chances of a kidney injury more likely if a person gets hurt. The positions of blood vessels can also differ from unfused kidneys. This means horeshoe kidney is more difficult to treat if the person has an accident. To mitigate these risks, a doctor may recommend:wearing a medical alert braceletavoiding contact sportshaving regular checkupsmaking medical professionals, teachers, and relatives aware of the condition What causes horseshoe kidney Doctors are not sure what causes horseshoe kidney, but certain factors seem to raise the risk. People with certain chromosomal disorders have a higher chance of also having horseshoe kidney. These disorders include:Edwards syndromeTurner syndromeDown syndrome However, having horseshoe kidney does not necessarily mean a person has a chromosomal abnormality. Other factors that scientists associate with horseshoe kidney include:alcohol consumption during pregnancyglycemic control due to diabetesexposure to certain drugs during pregnancy, such as thalidomide Doctors no longer give thalidomide to pregnant people, but some people affected by the drug still survive today. Symptoms of horseshoe kidney As many as 7 in 10 people with renal fusion will develop symptoms. This may include abdominal pain and nausea. People may also get frequent urinary tract infections (UTIs), which cause:painful urinationfrequent or urgent urinationurine that is cloudy, dark, or pink or has a strong odora high or low body temperatureabdominal or back pain Kidney stones can also be an indication of horseshoe kidney. This causes:severe pain on one side of the abdomen or groinhigh temperaturesweatingnausea or vomitingblood in the urine Diagnosis and treatment Sometimes, people find out they have horseshoe kidney during a scan for another condition. This may include an ultrasound or MRI scan. However, doctors may also begin looking for signs of kidney problems if a person has symptoms that could indicate renal fusion. Tests doctors can use to determine whether someone has horseshoe kidney include:ultrasound scanMRI scanCT scanintravenous pyelogram, which is an X-ray of the urinary tractvoiding cystourethrogram, which is a type of X-ray that involves filling the bladder with a colored dyeradionuclide scan, which involves taking images using a small amount of a radioactive chemical known as a “tracer”blood tests to check kidney function There is no cure for horseshoe kidney. However, people only require treatment if they have symptoms or complications of the condition. If no symptoms are present, a person does not need any medical intervention. Treatment may include:antibiotics for UTIssurgery to remove kidney stonespain management Complications of horseshoe kidney Many people with horseshoe kidney lead full, active lives. However, the atypical shape and lower-pelvic location of horseshoe kidney can interfere with the normal functioning of neighboring anatomic structures. As such, the condition does raise the risk of certain complications. These include:vesicoureteral reflux, which is when urine flows backward from the bladder and into the kidneysureteropelvic junction obstruction, which is when kidney and urine drainage becomes partially blockedhydronephrosis, which is when the kidneys swell due to urine collecting inside polycystic kidney disease, which is when benign, noncancerous cysts form in the kidneysrenal hypertension, which is when the arteries carrying blood to the kidneys become narrow, causing high blood pressurekidney cancer Although kidney cancer is more likely in people with renal fusion, researchers estimate that only 5.2 out of every 100,000 people with horseshoe kidney ever develop this complication. Doctors may treat these issues using medications or surgery. FAQS Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about horseshoe kidney. Does horseshoe kidney affect life expectancy For most people, horseshoe kidney does not cause serious health problems and thus does not affect their life expectancy. People with horseshoe kidney are at increased risk of developing other conditions, such as kidney cancer, but this is still uncommon among this group. Can people with horseshoe kidney drink alcohol In most people, having one or two occasional drinks is not harmful. However, drinking alcohol requires the kidneys to work harder, so regular and excessive alcohol drinking can cause or worsen kidney health problems. Additionally, some medications for horseshoe kidney may interact with alcohol. People who take medications should always talk with their doctor about possible interactions. Should people with horseshoe kidney follow a special diet Doctors do not recommend a specific diet for people with horseshoe kidney, but as diet affects kidney health in general, it is advisable to follow a balanced diet. The core elements of a healthy diet include:a variety of vegetables and fruitsgrains, especially whole grainsdairy and fortified, plant-based dairy alternativesprotein, such as lean meat, poultry, eggs, seafood, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds, and soy healthy fats, such as those from oily fish and nuts Limit added sugars, saturated fat, sodium, and alcohol. Summary Horseshoe kidney is a condition that develops during fetal development in the uterus. It causes the kidneys to fuse together, forming one horseshoe-shaped organ. Researchers do not know the exact cause of horseshoe kidney, but the condition has links with certain genetic conditions and environmental factors. Some people do not know they have horseshoe kidney, as they do not get symptoms. Others with the condition can develop symptoms or complications, such as UTIs or abdominal pain. Supportive care can help manage this. Last medically reviewed on August 7, 2022GeneticsUrology / NephrologyKidney disease 7 sourcescollapsedMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.Alcohol and your kidneys. (n.d.)https://www.kidney.org/atoz/content/alcoholDietary Guidelines for Americans. (2020).https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2020-12/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans_2020-2025.pdfHorseshoe kidney. (2021).https://www.infokid.org.uk/horseshoe-kidneyHorseshoe kidney (renal fusion). (n.d.).https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/h/horseshoe-kidney-(renal-fusion)Horseshoe kidney. (2022).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK431105/Krutsri, C., et al. (2020). Traumatic blunt force renal injury in a diseased horseshoe kidney with successful embolization to treat active bleeding: A case report and literature review.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7397383/Yamamichi, G., et al. (2019). Renal cell carcinoma in a horseshoe kidney treated with robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214442019301263?via%3DihubFEEDBACK:Medically reviewed by William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS — By Lauren Hellicar on August 7, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageNephroptosis: What you need to knowMedically reviewed by Carissa Stephens, RN, CCRN, CPN A floating or mobile kidney is medically known as nephroptosis. It is rare and can happen as a result of weight loss, pregnancy, injury, and other…READ MOREWhat foods are bad for kidneys?Medically reviewed by Lisa Hodgson, RDN, CDN, CDE The kidneys are a pair of essential organs situated on either side of the spine at the bottom of the rib cage. This article explores what foods might…READ MOREWhy does my urine smell like ammonia?Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, M.D., MPH A look at urine that smells like ammonia, which can have many causes. Included is detail on when to see a doctor and treatments for the condition.READ MOREWhat to know about continuous bladder irrigation Continuous bladder irrigation (CBI) is a procedure that people typically undergo after urological surgeries. Learn more here.READ MORE9 causes of white particles in urine Possible causes of white particles in urine include UTIs, kidney stones, STIs, yeast infections, prostatitis, and pregnancy. Learn about the symptoms…READ MORE