Familial vesicoureteral reflux in asymptomatic siblings

A prospective study was established to identify the incidence of vesicoureteral reflux in the asymptomatic siblings of patients with reflux in our region. Of 32 patients with reflux, 37 siblings were screened with urine analysis, urine culture and contrast voiding cystourethrograms, and six (16.2%) were found to have reflux. Renal scan revealed scarring in five. We concluded that siblings of children with vesicoureteral reflux are at high risk, and must be screened so that renal damage and associated morbidity secondary to reflux might be minimized.