
Some cases, however, are caused by genetic mutations. Most cases of renal agenesis are not inherited from the parents, nor do they result from any behavior by the mother. However, eating a moderate amount of protein is still necessary to ensure adequate nutrition. Since the kidneys remove the waste material that proteins are broken down into, eating a protein rich diet can give the kidneys extra work to do. What foods should you avoid with one kidney?Īlcohol and caffeine should be limited and high-protein foods should be avoided.

Most people with one kidney live healthy, normal lives with few problems. However, the loss in kidney function is usually very mild, and life span is normal. There may also be a chance of having high blood pressure later in life. This usually takes 25 years or more to happen. However, the risk of developing mild high blood pressure, fluid retention, and proteinuria is slightly higher if you have one kidney instead of two. Most people with a single kidney live a normal life without developing any long- or short-term problems. What are the disadvantages of living with one kidney? In other words, one healthy kidney can work as well as two. It is associated with renal agenesis, a hereditary condition in which children are born with either one kidney or no kidneys at all.Ĭan you live a normal life with one kidney? The newly discovered mutated gene is called GREB1L. Is being born with one kidney a mutation?Ī team led by University of Iowa researchers has identified a gene linked to rare, often fatal kidney-related birth defects.

A person may be born with one kidney (renal agenesis), have two kidneys but only one functional (renal dysplasia) or lose one kidney to a disease, such as kidney cancer. Solitary kidney is a condition in which a person has a single kidney instead of two kidneys. Is it Genetic? For the majority of families of a child with a single kidney, the risk of a second child with a similar problem is very low, but this should be discussed with your pediatrician or obstetrician who may refer you to a genetics counselor.
