INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES AND RENAL PARENCHYMAL DAMAGE IN CHILDREN WITH SPINA-BIFIDA

The case records of 72 patients attending a multidisciplinary spina bi fida clinic were reviewed to discover the prevalence of renal parenchy mal damage. 19.4% of the total population had such damage. More detail ed analysis of the group according to age showed that the prevalence o f parenchymal damage in the over ten year olds (27.3%), was twice that of the under five year olds (13.3%) but the same as the prevalence of ''at risk'' patients (26.6%) in this group. On the basis that most re nal parenchymal damage occurs early we conclude that the current appro ach to investigation and treatment is reducing the incidence of renal parenchymal damage in this population. Further reduction would require the early identification of the high risk bladder before the onset of hydronephrosis.