What is the most common cause of postrenal azotemia in men?

What is the most common cause of postrenal azotemia in men?

• A. Urethral stricture
• B. Bladder cancer
• C. Urinary stone
• D. Prostatic enlargement (BPH)

Answer: (D)

Postrenal azotemia happens when urine flow is blocked somewhere in the urinary tract, causing back pressure that lowers the glomerular filtration rate. In men, the most common blocker is benign prostatic hyperplasia, which enlarges the prostate and narrows the bladder outlet. This obstruction is a frequent and gradual cause of impaired kidney function in aging men, especially with chronic urinary retention. Other causes listed can cause obstruction, but they are less common as the underlying reason for postrenal azotemia in men. Urethral stricture and bladder cancer can block urine flow, and urinary stones can cause acute obstruction, but each is seen less often as the leading cause compared with BPH.

Postrenal azotemia happens when urine flow is blocked somewhere in the urinary tract, causing back pressure that lowers the glomerular filtration rate. In men, the most common blocker is benign prostatic hyperplasia, which enlarges the prostate and narrows the bladder outlet. This obstruction is a frequent and gradual cause of impaired kidney function in aging men, especially with chronic urinary retention.

Other causes listed can cause obstruction, but they are less common as the underlying reason for postrenal azotemia in men. Urethral stricture and bladder cancer can block urine flow, and urinary stones can cause acute obstruction, but each is seen less often as the leading cause compared with BPH.