Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
06:05
Assessing Urinary Tract Junction Obstruction Defects by Methylene Blue Dye Injection
Published on: October 12, 2017
Familial vesicoureteral reflux
1Children's Research Centre, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
The Journal of Urology
|April 11, 2003
Summary
Siblings of children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) have a significantly higher incidence of this condition. Early screening of asymptomatic siblings is recommended to detect VUR and prevent potential kidney damage.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Urology
- Genetics
Background:
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) demonstrates familial aggregation.
- Understanding the incidence and characteristics of VUR in siblings is crucial for early diagnosis and management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize global data on the incidence and nature of VUR in siblings of affected children.
- To assess the risk of renal damage in siblings with VUR.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search of MEDLINE (1972-2002) using keywords related to VUR in siblings and family.
- Analysis of identified articles for the incidence of VUR and renal damage in siblings.
Main Results:
- Siblings of VUR patients exhibit a substantially higher reflux incidence compared to the general population.
- Reflux incidence and severity correlate directly with patient age.
- Screening of asymptomatic siblings is widely advocated.
Conclusions:
- Sibling VUR incidence is significant, often presenting as high-grade reflux with associated reflux nephropathy in symptomatic cases.
- Further randomized controlled trials are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of screening in preventing renal damage in asymptomatic siblings compared to diagnosis post-urinary tract infection.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Ureters
The ureters are retroperitoneal tubes located on either side of the vertebral column. They are responsible for transporting urine from each kidney to the urinary bladder. These tubes have thick walls and are approximately 25-30 cm long. Their diameter is around 10 mm at the renal pelvis, gradually narrowing to 1 mm as the ureter obliquely enters the posterior bladder wall through the ureteric orifices. The shape of these orifices is slit-like, which helps to prevent urine backflow toward the...
01:26The Micturition Reflex
Urination, or micturition involves the coordination of the bladder's detrusor muscle and two sphincters to ensure controlled bladder emptying.
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating urine...
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating urine...
01:20Disorders of the Urinary System
The urinary system is responsible for eliminating waste and excess fluids from the body. However, disorders of the urinary system can arise due to various reasons like infections, stress, age, congenital abnormalities, and lifestyle.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common urinary system disorders. They are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and can spread to the bladder resulting in cystitis. Pyelonephritis is the result of a UTI that has ascended to the level of the...
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common urinary system disorders. They are caused by bacteria that enter the urethra and can spread to the bladder resulting in cystitis. Pyelonephritis is the result of a UTI that has ascended to the level of the...
01:26Urinary Tract Calculi II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
Renal calculi, commonly termed kidney stones, are crystalline solid masses that form in the kidneys but can occur at any point within the urinary system, encompassing the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra.The pathophysiology of renal stones involves several key factors: supersaturation of the urine with stone-forming constituents, changes in urine pH, a decrease in urine volume, and the presence of substances that promote or inhibit stone formation.Supersaturation of Urine: This is the...
01:22Imaging Studies V: Intravenous Urography and Retrograde Pyelography
IntroductionIntravenous Urography (IVU) and Retrograde Pyelography (RP) are important diagnostic imaging techniques used to evaluate the urinary system. These methods help identify structural abnormalities, obstructions, and functional issues in the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. Both procedures use iodine-based contrast media to enhance the visibility of urinary tract structures on X-ray images, though they differ in their methods and indications.1. Intravenous Urography (IVU)Intravenous...
01:22Imaging Studies VI: Voiding Cystourethrography and Cystography
Voiding Cystourethrography (VCUG) and Cystography are specialized radiographic procedures used to examine the structure and function of the bladder and urethra.Voiding Cystourethrography (VCUG)A Voiding Cystourethrogram (VCUG) is a diagnostic imaging procedure that assesses the anatomy and function of the lower urinary tract. It focuses on the bladder, bladder neck, and urethra, helping detect abnormalities such as vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)—the backward or reverse flow of urine into the...