Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Children and Adolescents With Chronic Renal Failure

Abstract

Lower urinary tract symptoms are common in children after renal transplantation. However, it is unclear whether lower urinary tract symptoms are present before transplantation or appear postoperatively. We sought to evaluate bladder function in children before renal transplantation. A total of 40 children 5 to 18 years old with a glomerular filtration rate of less than 50 ml per minute per 1.73 m(2) were consecutively enrolled in the study from 2006 to 2008. Bladder function was assessed by a comprehensive history, bladder diary, uroflowmetry and bladder ultrasound. Of the patients 20% suffered from incontinence, 47.5% had bladder capacity larger than expected for age, 20% had discontinuous flow and 15% had residual urine 20 ml or greater. Signs consistent with bladder dysfunction (incontinence, abnormal bladder capacity, discontinuous urinary flow and/or residual urine) were observed in 13 of 13 children (100%) with urological disorders and 16 of 27 (59%) with nonurological disorders. Polyuria was present in 39% of the patients. Prior febrile urinary tract infection was significantly more common in children with vs without signs of bladder dysfunction. Lower urinary tract symptoms are common in children with chronic renal failure. Screening for bladder dysfunction is important not only in children with urological disorders, but also in those with nonurological disorders, so that dysfunction can be corrected before transplantation.