Presence of vesicoureteral reflux in the graft kidney does not adversely affect long-term graft outcome in kidney transplant recipients

Introduction: We studied the incidence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in the graft kidney and its effect on the occurrence of urinary tract infection (UTI) and long-term graft function.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 64 adult kidney transplant recipients based upon voiding cystourethrography at 12 months post-transplantation. Patients underwent analysis of survival, incidence of UTIs beyond 1 year, and graft function.

Results: Thirty-seven male and 27 female patients in the study populations showed a mean age 42 years. VUR in the transplanted kidney at 12 months post-transplant occurred among 78.1% (50/64) of subjects: grade I (n = 6), grade II (n = 30), or grade III (n = 14) reflux. Patients followed for a median 61 months (range 44-74s) showed 11 cases of UTIs in 9 subjects. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics or incidence of, UTIs according to the presence or severity of VUR (P = .81) or the Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate values at 12, 36, 48, or 60 months post-transplantation.

Conclusions: VUR present in 78.1% of patients after kidney transplantation affected neither graft functions or graft survival. The incidence of UTI did not differ according to the presence of VUR.