Vesicoureteral reflux after kidney transplantation in children

BACKGROUND: The prevalence and significance of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) after kidney transplantation in adults varies between authors and there have been few reports in children. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study in a single-centre paediatric cohort. Fifty-five of the 84 children who underwent kidney transplantation over a 5-year period were checked with routine cystography after a median of 8 months post-transplantation. Graft function and urinary-tract infections were assessed during the first 6 years after transplantation. RESULTS: VUR into the graft was present in 58% of the patients. Graft function and incidence of urinary-tract infections were similar in the two groups, independent of VUR. After having excluded infections attributed to the presence of a catheter, actuarial survival rates without pyelonephritis and without pyelonephritis following a first lower urinary-tract infection were worse in patients with VUR (P:=0.017 and P:=0.0039 respectively). None of the eight patients with VUR treated with antibiotic prophylaxis after a first acute pyelonephritis (APN) episode presented subsequent APN after 4.4+/-3.3 years on therapy. CONCLUSIONS: VUR to the graft occurred in more than half paediatric renal transplant recipients. This condition was associated with an increased risk of APN. Long-term antibiotic prophylaxis seems to be able to prevent APN in transplanted children with VUR.