title: Relationship between Urological Disease and Inferior Vena Cava Reflux on Color Doppler Ultrasonography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The possible relationship between urological disease and inferior vena cava (IVC) reflux was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transabdominal color Doppler ultrasonography of the IVC was performed. The patient was placed supine and the convex probe was positioned in vertical to the upper abdominal wall. Then the extent of reflux in the IVC accompanying each heart beat was examined near the diaphragm. A total of 403 patients (202 males and 201 females aged 12-90 years) were studied. The relationship between the existence of IVC reflux or its severity and urological disease was examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 202 males included 104 and 98 subjects without and with IVC reflux, respectively, while the 201 females included 64 and 137 subjects without and with IVC reflux, respectively. The prevalence of IVC reflux was significantly higher in females than males. Chronic prostatitis (18/21 subjects) in males and stress incontinence (22/23 subjects) in females were significantly related to the existence of IVC reflux. Conversely, urolithiasis was related to lack of IVC reflux in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IVC reflux may be positively or negatively related to the occurrence of some urological diseases. Pelvic congestion secondary to IVC reflux may be one of the factors contributing to chronic prostatitis and stress incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kitakami Central Hospital, Okinawa, JapanSouthern Knights' Laboratory LLP, Okinawa, JapanFaculty of Medicine, Division of Urology, Department of Organ-oriented Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Kimio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kitakami Central Hospital, Okinawa, JapanSouthern Knights' Laboratory LLP, Okinawa, JapanFaculty of Medicine, Division of Urology, Department of Organ-oriented Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matsumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kitakami Central Hospital, Okinawa, JapanSouthern Knights' Laboratory LLP, Okinawa, JapanFaculty of Medicine, Division of Urology, Department of Organ-oriented Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tasaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kitakami Central Hospital, Okinawa, JapanSouthern Knights' Laboratory LLP, Okinawa, JapanFaculty of Medicine, Division of Urology, Department of Organ-oriented Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kitakami Central Hospital, Okinawa, JapanSouthern Knights' Laboratory LLP, Okinawa, JapanFaculty of Medicine, Division of Urology, Department of Organ-oriented Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Asuka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kiyuna
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kitakami Central Hospital, Okinawa, JapanSouthern Knights' Laboratory LLP, Okinawa, JapanFaculty of Medicine, Division of Urology, Department of Organ-oriented Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Saori
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nishijima
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Kitakami Central Hospital, Okinawa, JapanSouthern Knights' Laboratory LLP, Okinawa, JapanFaculty of Medicine, Division of Urology, Department of Organ-oriented Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Katsumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kadekawa
keywords: chronic prostatitis; inferior vena cava reflux; stress incontinence; ultrasonography