Follow-Up Study of Urinary Tract Infection Associated with Vesicoureteral Reflux

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the major cause of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children. Prolonged untreated UTI associated with VUR may result in serious complications, such as renal scarring, renal atropy, and decreased renal function. Therefore, follow up must be continued until UTI is cured completely, to prevent of serious complication. The authors conducted this study to evaluate results of the follow-up of UTI associated with VUR. METHODS: During the period from March 1991 to July 1996, we had 47 children with urinary tract infection associated with vesicoureteral reflux who were admitted to the Department of Pediatrics and Urology, Presbyterian Medical Center. The patients were managed medically or surgically. RESULTS: 1) There were no differences in sex distribution in the 47 cases with VUR. The intensity of 67 refluxing ureters, classified by the International Reflux Study Committee, grade I, 10 cases; grade II, 11 cases; grade III, 20 cases; grade IV, 17 cases; grade V, 9 cases. 2) The most common causative agent in UTI was E. coli. Fourty-six cases underwent ultrasonography and 24 showed abnormal findings. Fourty-four cases underwent a 99mTc-DMSA renal scan, and 25 showed abnormal findings. The incidence of renal scarring showed a direct correlation with the severity of VUR. 3) The incidence of urinary tract infection during follow-up did not differ between the groups medical management versus surgical management. 4) Fourty-four refluxing ureters were treated primary medically and 38 of them were followed up. Twenty-five of the 38 ureters were disappeared or improved, and 9 persisted. The rest showed aggravation of reflux. Twenty-five of the 32 refluxing ureters showed disappearance or improvement of reflux before 5 years of age, The spontaneous cure rate of vesicoureral reflux seemed to be higher in the cases with a milder grade of reflux. 5) Although refluxing ureter disappeared completely on VCUG, we found that follow-up is continued until the disappearance of reflux is confirmed on two serial VCUG. 6) Thirty-three refluxing ureters were treated surgically and one of them was stationary on follow-up VCUG, while the others were cleared. CONCLUSIONS: As a result of follow-up the 47 patients with VUR, the incidence of urinary tract infection did not differ between the groups medical versus surgical management. Rates of disappearance of VUR in medical and surgical management were 66%, 97%, respectively. The spontaneous cure rate of VUR seemed to be higher in the cases with a milder grade of reflux and before 5 years of age. We found that follow-up is continued until the disappearance of reflux is confirmed on two serial VCUG.