Screening babies for vesicoureteric reflux

Abstract

The importance of vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) as a risk factor for renal scarring emerged after the publication by Hodson in 19591 of abnormalities detected by intravenous pyelography and micturating cystography in children with recurrent urinary-tract infection (UTI). The strong association between VUR and post-UTI scarring and the presumed causal relation led to this type of renal damage being known as reflux nephropathy, it having been described previously as chronic pyelonephritis. Interest then focused on surgical correction of VUR, in the hope that recurrent infection would be reduced and that renal damage would be prevented, and on medical approaches, first of repeated short courses of treatment and later of long-term low-dose prophylaxis against breakthrough infections.