Background:

The Solitary functioning kidney (SFK) is an entity that can be congenital type caused by unilateral renal agenesis or multicystic dysplastic kidney, or acquired secondary to unilateral nephrectomy conditioning to a strict routine follow-up, as well as the implementation of some prevention guidelines in pediatric patients.

Purpose:

To analyze the importance of follow-up in pediatric patients with a single functioning kidney.

Methodology:

A review of the literature is made showing embryology, physiology, etiology, clinical aspects and diagnostic studies in patients with SFK in order to subsequently offer guidelines for follow-up and management in pediatric patients.

Results:

Patients with SFK may present compensatory glomerular hyperfiltration, followed by glomerular injury with hypertension, albuminuria and reduced glomerular filtration rate, however, to prevent renal damage a careful clinical, paraclinical and imaging follow-up of every patient with SFK should be performed as the condition warrants.

Conclusions:

It is necessary to unify follow-up guidelines in pediatric patients with SFK and to emphasize those risk factors that predispose to renal compromise.

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