Abstract

Background: To examine the outcome in pregnancies with fetal urinary tract abnormalities diagnosed with prenatal ultrasonography.
Material/Methods: Retrospective chart review of 8000 cases of prenatal ultrasonography at 18-28th weeks of gestation. Fetuses with urinary tract anomalies had ultrasonographic surveillance after 6 days and 6 weeks of life.
Results: Renal tract anomalies were identified in 112 foetuses. There were 31 abortions because of lethal congenital abnormalities (anephric foetus, bilateral multicystic or polycystic kidney malfunctions), and there were 11 intrauterine fetal deaths. Dilatation of the upper urinary tract was identified in 35 cases (in 0.45 per cent of the foetuses), but was transient in 16 of the cases (45.7 per cent). Obstruction occurred in 18 infants and 17 required surgical correction. Unilateral multicystic renal dysplasia occurred in 4 and posterior urethral valves in 6 infants.
Conclusions: Prenatal ultrasonography identified significant renal tract anomalies with a frequency of 14 per 1000 births, permitting early treatment and reducing later damage.

Keywords: Urinary Tract, Pregnancy