reflux nephropathy

reflux nephropathy Ureteral reflux, vesicoureteral reflux, vesicoureteric reflux Nephrology The retrograde flow of urine from the bladder into the ureters which occurs when the unidirectional valve-like flow between the ureters and bladder fails; bladder infection may cause pyelonephritis, and expose the kidney to high pressures, which over time damage the kidney and cause scarring Etiology Short or absent bladder wall tunnels, bladder infection, stones, bladder outlet obstruction, neurogenic bladder, abnormal ureters or number of ureters, following surgical reimplantation of ureters during kidney transplantation or due to ureteral trauma Clinical Repeated bladder infections Associations Cystits, stones, bladder outlet obstruction, structural defects of ureters Grading 5 grades; grades I and II don't require treatment Risk factors Personal or family Hx of reflux, congenital urinary tract defects, and recurrent UTIs Prognosis RN may lead to chronic renal failure, ESRD, nephrotic syndrome. See End-stage renal disease, Urinary tract infection.