Retroperitoneal fibrosis: practical problems in management.

Nineteen patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis were reviewed. Eighteen patients had idiopathic disease and one had taken methysergide for 15 years. Primary bilateral ureterolysis was undertaken in 13 cases. Five patients developed problems due to extension of their disease after surgery. Low dose steroids may be useful in the treatment of patients with raised sedimentation rates after surgery in order to prevent late manifestations of the disease.