BLADDER DYSFUNCTION IN BOYS WITH POSTERIOR URETHRAL VALVES BEFORE ANDAFTER PUBERTY

Purpose: We characterized bladder dysfunction in boys with posterior u rethral valves during childhood and adolesence. Materials and Methods: A total of 12 prepubertal boys with posterior urethral valves present ing before age 1 year was followed from ages 4 to 14 years and compare d to 6 postpubertal boys with posterior urethral valves. Urodynamic ev aluations and renal function studies were performed repeatedly. Result s: Patients had a changing urodynamic pattern with instability decreas ing with time, increasing bladder capacity and commonly an unsustained voiding contraction causing emptying difficulties. Postpubertal boys had high capacity bladders with low contractility. Conclusions: We sug gest that previously described urodynamic patterns of the valve bladde r (unstable, poorly compliant and over distended bladders) are variati ons of the same basic pattern that changes with time toward decompensa tion.