Reflux nephropathy

Alternative names:

chronic atrophic pyelonephritis; nephropathy - reflux; ureteral reflux; vesico-ureteric reflux

Symptoms:

• repeated urinary tract infections in a female
• a single urinary tract infection in a male
• flank pain, back pain, or abdominal pain
• urinary frequency/urgency increased
• need to urinate at night
• burning or stinging with urination
• feeling of incomplete emptying of the bladder
• blood in the urine
• dark or foamy urine

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• urinary hesitancy
• nausea and vomiting
• nail abnormalities
• fever
• chills

Note: The disorder may not cause symptoms.

Signs and tests:

The blood pressure may be elevated, and there may be signs and symptoms of chronic renal failure.

Other tests include:

• blood pressure
• kidney ultrasound
• serum, BUN
• serum, creatinine
• creatinine clearance
• urinalysis or 24-hour urine studies that show elevated urine protein levels
• urine culture that shows infection.
• radionuclide cystogram may show vesicoureteric reflux or hydronephrosis (distention of the kidney from fluid accumulation in the renal pelvis)
• IVP that shows hydronephrosis, a small kidney, or scarring of the kidney
• Abdominal CT scan or ultrasound of the kidneys or abdomen that shows hydronephrosis, reflux, a small kidney, or scarring.
• A voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) definitively diagnoses vesicoureteric reflux