Natural history of vesicoureteral reflux in siblings

L P Connolly1, S T Treves, D Zurakowski

  • 1Department of Radiology (Division of Nuclear Medicine), Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

The Journal of Urology
|November 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Vesicoureteral reflux often resolves spontaneously in children identified through sibling screening. This study supports non-surgical management with regular imaging for asymptomatic cases.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nephrology
  • Urology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is a common condition in children.
  • Sibling screening is crucial for early detection in at-risk families.
  • Understanding the natural history of VUR is essential for guiding treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the natural progression of VUR in asymptomatic siblings of affected children.
  • To identify predictors and the time course for spontaneous resolution of VUR.
  • To inform management strategies for pediatric VUR detected via screening.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 76 girls and 32 boys diagnosed with VUR through sibling screening.
  • Analysis of radionuclide cystograms to assess reflux severity and resolution.
  • Logistic regression and survival analysis were employed to determine predictors of resolution.

Main Results:

  • Spontaneous resolution of VUR occurred in 52.8% of cases over a mean follow-up of 18.5 months.
  • Annual resolution rates were observed to be over 28%.
  • No significant predictors for the likelihood of VUR resolution were identified; however, unilateral and mild reflux predicted more rapid resolution.

Conclusions:

  • Spontaneous resolution is a likely outcome for VUR in children identified through sibling screening programs.
  • These findings support conservative, non-surgical management approaches.
  • Annual imaging evaluations are recommended to monitor resolution progress.
Abstract

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