Vesicoureteral Reflux and Renal Scarring in Infants after the First Febrile Urinary Tract Infection

Abstract

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in children. It is caused by bacteria and can lead to complications such as renal scarring in cases of late diagnosis and a lack of early treatment. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) occurs when urine flows from the bladder to the ureter and kidney, and is more common in children with UTI. VUR predisposes patients to pyelonephritis and can cause renal scarring. This retrospective study aimed to determine whether VUR was associated with the evolution to renal scarring in 132 infants aged 9 days to 24 months admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, with the first episode of febrile UTI (mean age = 4.48 months [standard deviation = 5.48]; 82 [62.1%] males; 50 [37.9%] females). Data from their medical records were investigated[INLINE:1]for VUR and renal scarring. The VUR was related to renal scarring (P = 0.001). C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in patients with VUR (P = 0.027) and renal scars (P = 0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between VUR and renal scarring with the first UTI (P = 0.001). In conclusion, our study revealed a significant association of CRP with renal scarring (P = 0.05) and VUR and (P = 0.027).