Epidemiology and demography of recently diagnosed cases of posterior urethral valves

Abstract

Background: Posterior urethral valves (PUV) are a common cause of chronic kidney disease in young children, yet there is a paucity of knowledge about etiology and incidence. We sought to determine the incidence in Australia and to explore whether any demographic features were associated with incidence.

Methods: PUV cases born between 2004 and 2009 in New South Wales (NSW) were identified by linkage analysis of two registries. The incidence rate was compared to registries from two other states. An audit was then performed at two pediatric centers.

Results: Seventy-one boys were born and diagnosed in NSW with PUV, giving a live-birth incidence of 1.28 per 10,000. Fifty-one cases were treated at the two participating centers. Fifty-three percent of these were suspected on antenatal ultrasound. Of the remaining cases, 45% were detected in the neonatal period, with 50% of all postnatal cases presenting with urinary tract infection. No association was observed between maternal factors or socioeconomic status and PUV incidence.

Conclusion: PUV was found in 1 in 7,800, a similar rate to international studies. Although almost half of cases are antenatally detected, a significant proportion present outside the neonatal period. Birth incidence was not associated with maternal or demographic factors.