Prognosis With Vesicoureteral Reflux

Abstract

Blank and Girdany's attempt to disprove a relationship between pyelonephritis and vesicoureteral reflux is at variance with other published reports. We followed 281 children with vesicoureteral refiux and a history of urinary infection at Boston Children's Hospital Medical Center. Using accepted radiographic criteria, 35% initially had some evidence of unilateral or bilateral pyelonephnitis, a prevalence similarly reported by MacGregor et al. The positive relationship noted between grades of reflux severity and the proportion of children having pyelonephritic changes was also noted by Rolleston et al. In our series, 80% had reflux of moderate or lesser degree; a minority thus fell into categories of more severe reflux and more prevalent renal damage.