[Posterior urethral valves. Prognostic factors in the clinical course]

A retrospective study was conducted in 27 patients with posterior urethral valves that had been treated between 1978 and 1991 in order to determine the prognostic factors of renal function. Patient age ranged from 12 days to 12 years. The mean follow-up was 5 years. Urinary infection was the most common symptom. We used micturating cystography, intravenous urography, US, urodynamics and cystoscopy for the diagnosis. Renal function was evaluated by serum creatinine. All the valves were treated endoscopically by transurethral fulguration. Nineteen patients also underwent ureteral reimplantations. There were 5 nephrectomies and 12 upper tract diversions. There was a strong correlation between serum creatinine at the beginning and after a year and the final renal function (p > 0.001 and p = 0.030, respectively). The correlation between the age and initial serum creatinine was almost significant (p = 0.065). There was no significant correlation between the age at diagnosis, the reflux and the final renal function.