The voiding pattern in infants with dilating reflux

Objective To determine whether the voiding pattern in infants with dilating vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) differs from that in healthy infants, thus su pporting the existence of bladder dysfunction in infants with WR, Patients and methods Forty-one infants (33 boys and eight girls) with dilat ing VUR (grades 3-5) were studied using a noninvasive 4-hourly voiding reco rd described previously in studies of the voiding pattern of healthy infant s, and the results compared with those obtained from healthy infants of sim ilar age. Results The voiding pattern in the boys with VUR was characterized by small frequent voids and interrupted voids in more patients (36%) than in health y boys (15%). Conversely, the girls with WR were infrequent voiders of rela tively high volumes. Residual urine was significantly increased in both boy s and girls, as was bladder capacity, although not significantly. Conclusions The free voiding pattern in infants with dilating reflux differ s from that seen in healthy infants of comparable age. The characteristics for boys and girls differed but was in accordance with that seen in invasiv e urodynamic studies, suggesting refluxing infants to have a bladder dysfun ction.