Vesicoureteral reflux in adult women with uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the significance of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in adult women with uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis.


METHODS
Eighty-six adult women with uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis were studied from April 1998 to October 2003. They showed no structural urinary tract abnormalities. The mean age of patients was 36.2 years (range, 19 to 54 years). We divided these patients into two groups. In group I (31 patients), we performed a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) on the third day of treatment to demonstrate possible transient low-grade VUR during the acute infectious phase. In group II (the remaining 55 patients), we performed VCUG after the seventh day of treatment.


RESULTS
There were only 2 (2.3%) cases of VUR among 86 patients with uncomplicated acute pyelonephritis. No VUR was found in group I, and grade II reflux was found in 2 patients of group II.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that, unlike in children, VUR is not a significant factor causing ascending infection leading to the development of acute pyelonephritis in adult women. Further research is warranted regarding the pathophysiology of ascending infection in the adult population.
Department of Urology, Urological Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. youngd74@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
Young Deuk
YD
Choi
Won Jae
WJ
Yang
Sung Hoon
SH
Do
Dong Suk
DS
Kim
Hye Young
HY
Lee
Jang Hwan
JH
Kim
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011704:Pyelonephritis / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology