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Published on: October 12, 2017
The natural history of vesicoureteral reflux
Rino Agostiniani1, Paola Mariotti
1Department of Pediatrics, Ospedale del Ceppo, Pistoia, Italy. rinoagostiniani@alice.it
Insights
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) presents a significant challenge in pediatric nephrology, necessitating revised diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. The focus should shift towards preventing kidney damage rather than solely detecting VUR.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Urology
- Congenital Anomalies of Kidneys and Urinary Tracts (CAKUT)
Background:
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a primary concern in pediatric nephrology, characterized by rapid advancements in understanding.
- Current diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines for CAKUT require reevaluation in light of new research.
Observation:
- Prompt diagnosis and aggressive interventions for CAKUT may have limited long-term prognostic impact.
- There is a need to refine diagnostic strategies to reduce unnecessary procedures and minimize radiologic exposure.
Findings:
- The primary goal of VUR management should be the prevention of renal parenchymal damage.
- Diagnostic approaches should prioritize less invasive methods with lower radiologic risks.
Implications:
- Revised diagnostic protocols are essential for optimizing patient outcomes in pediatric nephrology.
- A paradigm shift towards damage prevention is crucial for managing CAKUT effectively.
Abstract:
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the greatest and most recent challenge in pediatric nephrology, with explosive and relentless growth of knowledge. Many diagnostic and therapeutic indications must be revised with regards to up-to-date discoveries on the origin and evolution of congenital anomalies of kidneys and urinary tracts (CAKUT), because prompt diagnosis and aggressive intervention often seem to have only marginal influence on remote prognosis. Diagnostic strategies must tend to minimize the number of useless studies, preferring the ones that are less invasive and which expose to the smallest radiologic risk, reminding that the target is prevention of parenchymal damage, and not detecting VUR.
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