The Absence of Vesicoureteral Reflux in the Neonate with Myelodysplasia

Abstract

Urologic evaluation of 21 newborns with myelomeningoceles revealed a rarity of infection and an absence of vesicoureteral reflux on cystourethrography. An hypothesis has been advanced to explain the absence of reflux and the high incidence of reflux reported in older children with myelomeningoceles. The absence of reflux in these neonates indicates that reflux in children with myelomenigoceles is not caused by a primary congenital ureterovesical junction abnormality but rather is secondary to infection and/or progressive bladder dysfunction.