Vesicoureteral reflux in adults.

Vesicoureteral reflux was detected in 200 adults seen in a 4 year period. In group 1 (no history of urinary tract infection and negative urine cultures), all patients had abnormalities on excretory urograms that were suggestive of reflux. In patients with a history of recurrent urinary tract infection (groups 2 and 3), the excretory urograms showed an abnormality in 79 per cent of those with negative cultures and in 83 per cent of those with positive cultures. Thus, reflux should be suspected in patients with a history of recurrent urinary tract infection even if infection cannot be documented with urine culture. Urographic evidence of renal parenchymal scarring, ureteral dilatation, or mucosal striations should also suggest the possibility of vesicoureteral reflux even when the patient may have no urinary tract symptoms. Voiding cystourethrography should be performed in all adults with these findings to exclude the possibility of vesicoureteral reflux.