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Vesicoureteric reflux and renal malformations: a developmental problem
Author(s) -
Murawski IJ,
Gupta IR
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
clinical genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.543
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1399-0004
pISSN - 0009-9163
DOI - 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2005.00562.x
Subject(s) - vesicoureteric reflux , urinary system , medicine , vesicoureteral reflux , kidney , urology , population , ureter , ureteric bud , reflux , kidney development , disease , biology , genetics , gene , embryonic stem cell , environmental health
Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is a congenital urinary tract defect caused by the failure of the ureter to insert correctly into the bladder. It occurs in up to 1% of the general population and is associated with recurrent urinary tract infections and renal failure. Despite treatment of affected children for the past 40 years, the incidence of end‐stage renal disease secondary to VUR has not decreased. Twin and family studies reveal that VUR has a genetic basis. Some of the gene candidates that have been identified regulate the position of ureteric budding, a critical step in both kidney and urinary tract development. Analysis of data from humans and mice suggests that some of the renal damage associated with VUR is congenital and is due to a kidney malformation. Therefore, in these cases, the association of VUR and renal failure may be caused by a genetic defect affecting the formation of the kidney and the urinary tract.