Changing trends in characteristics of infantile hydronephrosis

Background: Hydronephrosis (HN) or calycial dilatation is the most common prenatal urologic abnormality. The aim of this study was to identify the possible changes in demographic and clinical manifestations of infan-tile HN in previously and recently diagnosed patients. Methods: 193 children with infantile HN admitted to Ali-asghar Childrenʹs Hospital in two different periods (group 1; 1997-2003, and group 2; 2005-2011) were evaluated in this cross-sectional study. Variables such as time at diagnosis, gender, clinical manifestations, etiology, laterality, grade, and associated anomalies were also evaluated. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 32.3± 42.6 (group 1) and 21.4± 36.4 (group 2), respectively. 69.8% of patients were males. 75% of prenatally diagnosed patients were asymptomatic. Urinary tract infection was the most common symptom, followed by pain, hematuria, and decreased renal function. Obstruction in ureteropel-vic junction was the most common etiology, accounting for 39.6% of all patients. Neurogenic bladder, vesicoureteral reflux, nephrolithiasis, and ureterovesical junction obstruction were the other common etiologies. 55.5% of all patients had unilateral HN, which was more common on the left side. No significant difference documented between two groups of patients, except for mild HN (23.7% vs. 39%), which was more common in newly diagnosed patients (p= 0.001). Conclusion: There was no changing trend in demographic and clinical manifestations of infantile HN. How-ever, the severity of infantile HN has been decreased significantly in recently diagnosed patients.