Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Renal dysfunction in recurrent urinary tract infections in childhood

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Pediatric Nephrology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

One hundred children aged 1.5–19.5 years, with recurrent urinary tract infections, at least one of which was febrile (pyelonephritis, PN), were investigated by means of inulin and para-aminohippurate (PAH) clearance tests for the evaluation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR), effective renal plasma flow, and concentrating and diluting capacities. Renal function data were collated with the clinical history and radiological findings. GFR and PAH clearance were found to be reduced compared with controls. Patients whose first PN was diagnosed before the age of 3 — particularly those with a history of three or more PN infections — showed the lowest values for GFR and PAH clearance. Furthermore, parenchymally reduced kidneys were found most frequently in this group of patients. Concentrating capacity was decreased in some patients, but a low concentrating capacity did not reveal patients with reduced GFRs. Diluting capacity evaluated as minimal urine osmolality was normal, but was reduced when evaluated as free water clearance in some patients with reduced values for GFR.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Stark H, Leibovitz L, Eisenstein B, Grunebaum M, Savir A (1980) Investigation and follow- up of 282 girls with recurrent urinary tract infection. Pediatr Res 14: 981

    Google Scholar 

  2. Aperia A, Berg U, Broberger O (1970) Renal function during hydropenia and water diuresis in children with recurrent urinary tract infections. Acta Paediatr Scand 59: 605–612

    Google Scholar 

  3. Berg U (1971) Renal function in children with recurrent urinary tract infections. Thesis, Stockholm

  4. Calcagno PL, D'Albora JB, Tina LU, Papadopoulou ZL, Deasy PF, Hollerman CE (1968) Alterations in renal cortical blood flow in infants and children with urinary tract infections. Pediatr Res 2: 332–351

    Google Scholar 

  5. Åbyholm G, Monn E (1979) Intranasal DDAVP-test in the study of renal concentrating capacity in children with recurrent urinary tract infections. Eur J Pediatr 130: 149–154

    Google Scholar 

  6. Berg UB, Johansson SB (1983) Age as a main determinant of renal functional damage in urinary tract infection. Arch Dis Child 58: 963–969

    Google Scholar 

  7. Jodal U, Lindberg U, Lincoln K (1975) Level diagnosis of symptomatic urinary tract infections in childhood. Acta Paediatr Scand 64: 201–208

    Google Scholar 

  8. Eklöf O, Ringertz H (1976) Kidney size in children. A method of assessment. Acta Radiol Diagn 17: 617–625

    Google Scholar 

  9. Claesson I, Jacobsson B, Olsson T, Ringertz H (1981) Assessment of renal parenchymal thickness in normal children. Acta Radiol Diagn 22: 305–314

    Google Scholar 

  10. International Reflux Study Committee (1981) Medical versus surgical treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux: a prospective international reflux study in children. J Urol 125: 277

    Google Scholar 

  11. Berg U, Bohlin A-B (1982) Renal hemodynamics in minimal change nephrotic syndrome in childhood. Int J Pediatr Nephrol 3: 187–192

    Google Scholar 

  12. Winberg J (1959) Determination of renal concentration capacity in infants and children without renal disease. Acta Paediatr Scand 48: 318–28

    Google Scholar 

  13. Hodson CJ, Wilson S (1965) Natural history of chronic pyelonephritis scarring. Br Med J 2: 191–194

    Google Scholar 

  14. Pylkkänen J, Vilska J, Koskimies O (1981) The value of level diagnosis of childhood urinary tract infection in predicting renal injury. Acta Paediatr Scand 70: 879–883

    Google Scholar 

  15. Winberg J, Claesson I, Jacobsson B, Jodal U, Peterson H (1979) Renal growth after acute pyelonephritis in childhood: an epidemiological approach. In: Hodson CJ, Kincaid-Smith P (eds) Reflux nephropathy. Masson, New York, pp 309–322

    Google Scholar 

  16. Michie AJ, Michie CR, Ragni MC (1957) Kidney function in unilateral pyelonephritis. II. Physiologic interpretations. Am J Med 22: 190–196

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gonick HC, Goldberg G, Rubini ME, Guze LB (1965) Functional abnormalities in experimental pyelonephritis. I. Studies of concentrating ability. Nephron 2: 193–206

    Google Scholar 

  18. Brod J (1956) Chronic pyelonephritis. Lancet I: 973–981

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kleeman CR, Hernitt WL, Guze LB (1960) Pyelonephritis. Medicine 39: 3

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, S-141 86, Huddinge, Sweden

    Ulla B. Berg

Authors
  1. Ulla B. Berg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Berg, U.B. Renal dysfunction in recurrent urinary tract infections in childhood. Pediatr Nephrol 3, 9–15 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00859616

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00859616

Key words

Search

Navigation