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An Important Risk Factor Affecting Hypercalciuria in Children: Vesicoureteral Reflux
Hakan Bahadir Haberal1, Meylis Artykov1, Berk Hazir1
1Department of Urology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
Summary
Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children is linked to higher urinary calcium excretion, especially in untreated cases. Treatment of VUR significantly lowers calcium levels, similar to healthy children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Nephrology
- Pediatric Nephrology
Background:
- Hypercalciuria in children is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, including diet.
- Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a condition that affects the urinary tract in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the presence and severity of VUR and hypercalciuria in pediatric patients.
- To compare urinary calcium excretion levels in children with VUR, urinary stones, and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from 165 pediatric patients.
- Patients were categorized into four groups: urinary stone, VUR follow-up, corrected VUR, and control.
- Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were compared across groups.
Main Results:
- Children with urinary stones and those with VUR under follow-up exhibited significantly higher urinary calcium/creatinine (UCa/Cr) ratios compared to the corrected VUR group.
- Urinary calcium excretion levels in the corrected VUR group were comparable to the control group.
- In the VUR follow-up group, higher-grade reflux correlated with increased mean UCa/Cr excretion and a higher frequency of elevated UCa/Cr ratios.
Conclusions:
- VUR treatment is associated with a significant reduction in urinary calcium excretion, normalizing levels to those seen in the general pediatric population.
- Children with untreated VUR show elevated urinary calcium levels, similar to those with urinary stones.
- The degree of VUR positively correlates with urinary calcium excretion.
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