Possible maternal inheritance of a common obstructive urinary tract anomaly. Report of a case of a woman with multiple urinary tract infections and two sons with posterior urethral valves.
BACKGROUND
Posterior urethral valves (PUVs) are the most common cause of lower urinary tract obstruction in boys. Several prior reports have described PUV in siblings and twins, often with a variable phenotype.


METHODS
PUVs were found in two brothers. The first child had developmental delay, while the second had a branchial cleft cyst and an anteriorly rotated right ear. The children's mother had a history of numerous urinary tract infections of unknown etiology.


CONCLUSIONS
Though most cases of PUV appear to be sporadic, there are reports that suggest a partial genetic etiology, as our case suggests.
Trembath
Dimitri G
DG
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242-1080, USA.
Rijhsinghani
Asha
A
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D035781:Siblings; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014521:Urethra / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014524:Urethral Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology