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Dynamic ultrasound study on urinary bladder in infants with antenatally detected fetal hydronephrosis

Vivian Yee-Fong Leung1, Darshana D Rasalkar, Ju-Xian Liu

  • 1Diagnostic Radiology and Organ Imaging Department, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.

Pediatric Research
|January 9, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Infants with antenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis (ANH) show abnormal bladder function, including smaller bladder capacity and thicker bladder walls. This suggests a link between immature kidney function and bladder dysfunction in ANH infants.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Urology
  • Neonatal Imaging
  • Renal Physiology

Background:

  • Antenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis (ANH) is a common condition in newborns.
  • Understanding the functional implications of ANH on bladder development is crucial.
  • Previous studies have focused on structural abnormalities, with less emphasis on bladder function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate bladder function in infants with ANH using a dynamic ultrasound protocol.
  • To assess parameters such as maximal bladder volume (MaxBV), residual volume (RV), and bladder wall thickness (BWT).
  • To investigate the correlation between hydronephrosis index (HI) and bladder dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • A dynamic ultrasound protocol was employed in 40 male infants with ANH and 33 age-matched controls.
  • Measurements included anteroposterior diameter of the renal pelvis (RP), hydronephrosis index (HI), MaxBV, RV, and BWT.
  • Statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney test) was used to compare groups.

Main Results:

  • 77.5% of ANH infants showed persistently dilated RP, with 39% having a high HI.
  • ANH infants exhibited smaller MaxBV, larger RV, and larger BWT compared to controls (p < 0.05).
  • Infants with high HI demonstrated more pronounced bladder dysfunction (smaller MaxBV, larger BWT) than those with normal HI (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

  • Abnormal functional bladder parameters are evident in infants with ANH.
  • Immature pelviureteric junction function may be associated with bladder dysfunction in these infants.
  • Dynamic ultrasound is a valuable tool for understanding the pathophysiology of the urinary system in ANH.
Abstract

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