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The origin of vesico‐ureteric reflux in male newborns: further evidence in favour of a transient fetal urethral obstruction
Author(s) -
Avni E.F.,
Schulman C.C.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of urology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 0007-1331
DOI - 10.1046/j.1464-410x.1996.00106.x
Subject(s) - reflux , medicine , fetus , transient (computer programming) , pregnancy , biology , disease , genetics , computer science , operating system
Objective To present further arguments supporting a transient urethral obstruction occurring during early fetal development as an explanation of the origin of vesico‐ureteric reflux (VUR) in baby boys. Patients and methods The findings of ultrasonography and voiding cysto‐urethrography (VCUG) in 25 baby boys with VUR were reviewed, studying mainly bladder and urethral anomalies on VCUG and bladder‐wall thickness on ultrasonography. Results A bladder or urethral anomaly was found in 15 patients, comprising isolated posterior urethral dilatation in five, posterior urethral dilatation with a bladder anomaly in four, tubular appearance of the urethra in two and bladder neck hypercontractility with diverticulae in four. Bladder‐wall thickness ranged from 1 to 8 mm (mean 3.7) and in eight patients, the thickness exceeded 5 mm. Conclusion The bladder and urethral anomalies found in this series of patients with neonatal VUR could be explained by a transient bladder outlet obstruction that possibly occurred in utero . These findings support the theory that a significant number of cases of VUR seen in baby boys result from a transient fetal urethral obstruction.