Renal Scarring in Children with Primary Vesicoureteral Reflux Disease

Aims: To determine the incidence of renal scarring among patients with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and the possible risk factor(s), we studied 69 children (42 girls and 27 boys) with VUR attending the Pediatric opd.

Study Design: Prospective Observational study.

Place and duration of Study: Department of pediatrics, Sher I Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar, Kashmir between June 2017 to June 2018.

Methodology: All the patients were assessed for VUR grade by voiding cystoureterography and for presence of renal scarring by (99 m) technetium dimercapto–succinic acid scintigraphy.

Results: Grade of reflux and number of urinary tract infection (UTI) episodes (≥3) were found to be statistically significant risk factors for renal scarring (P <0.05). However, there was no significant association with gender, familial history and laterality of the disease (P >0.05). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference of frequency of renal scarring among the different age groups (P >0.05).

Conclusions: It was concluded that recurrences of UTI and VUR severity are significant risk factors for renal scarring in children with VUR. Therefore, identification of VUR at an early age may offer the opportunity to prevent episodes of UTI and possible formation of renal scars that may result in end-stage renal failure.