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Updated: Dec 30, 2025
Vessel-sparing Excision and Primary Anastomosis
Published on: January 7, 2019
Clinical characteristics and outcome of childhood vesicoureteral reflux
Eda D Kurt-Sukur1, Zeynep B Özçakar2, Pinar Haznedar-Karakaya3
1Ankara University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology. didemsukur@gmail.com.
Insights
Boys with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) are diagnosed younger but have worse outcomes, including more severe reflux and abnormalities. Girls with VUR show higher rates of urinary tract infections and spontaneous resolution.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Nephrology
- Radiology
Background:
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common condition in children.
- Understanding gender-specific differences in VUR presentation and outcomes is crucial for effective management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate clinical features and outcomes of pediatric VUR stratified by gender and reflux grade.
- To identify gender-based disparities in VUR diagnosis, presentation, and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 220 children diagnosed with VUR between January 2014 and January 2015.
- Data collected included demographics, clinical course, laboratory results, and imaging findings (ultrasound, DMSA).
Main Results:
- Boys were diagnosed younger (2.00 vs. 3.81 years) and presented more frequently with antenatal hydronephrosis (AHN).
- Higher VUR grades (4-5) were more common in boys (43.6%) and associated with abnormal ultrasound and DMSA findings, leading to more frequent surgery.
- Girls exhibited higher rates of urinary tract infections (UTIs), lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD), and spontaneous reflux resolution.
Conclusions:
- Boys with VUR, despite earlier diagnosis, experience more severe reflux, higher rates of AHN, and greater radiological abnormalities.
- Gender influences VUR presentation, severity, and resolution patterns, necessitating tailored clinical approaches.
Introduction:
The aim of the study was to assess the clinical features and outcome parameters of children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) based on gender and VUR grade.
Population And Methods:
Patients with VUR who were seen during routine follow-up visits at Ankara University Children's Hospital between January 2014-January 2015 were included in this retrospective study. Patient demographics, clinical course, laboratory investigations, imaging were noted.
Results:
Two hundred and twenty patients were recruited. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 3,17 ± 3,08 years. Boys were diagnosed at younger ages as compared to girls (2.00 ± 2,59 vs. 3,81 ± 3.15, p < 0.001). Urinary tract infection (UTI) was the most common presentation. The second presentation form was antenatal hydronephrosis (AHN) which was more common in males (25.6 %, p < 0.001). Twenty-two percent of the patients had grade 1-2, 51 % grade 3 and 27 % grade 4-5 reflux. Patients with grade 4-5 reflux had more abnormal ultrasound (US) and Tech 99m dimercaptosuccinic acid scintigraphy (DMSA) findings and surgery was performed more frequently in this group (p < 0.001). In males, grade 4-5 reflux (43.6 % vs. 18.3 %), abnormal US (77 % vs. 54 %) and DMSA (77 % vs. 59 %) findings were more frequent (p < 0.05). In girls higher rates of UTIs, lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) and spontaneous reflux resolution were seen (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
Despite younger age at diagnosis, spontaneous resolution was found lower in boys and they had more frequent AHN, more severe reflux, and radiological abnormalities.
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