Prevalence of fetal renal pyelectasis in primary health care setting : an ultrasound approach

Abstract EN

Objectives: To study the prevalence of fetal renal pyelectesis among Bahraini high risk pregnant patients in primary care and the clinical outcome of infants affected.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: In Naim Health center.

Method: This study was conducted from January 2000 to December 2001, a total of five hundred and fifty six high-risk pregnant Bahraini patients were scanned.

Patients were identified through high-risk pregnancy referred for ultrasound examination from health centers, twenty-one were followed up at 32 weeks and after birth, ten were scanned at two years.

Results: A total of 556 Bahraini pregnant patients scanned at different stages during pregnancy, 29 (5.2%) were found to have mild to severe grades of fetal renal pylectasis.

During the follow up at two years, three of them had persistent hydronephrosis.

Conclusion: In this study it was found that the prevalence of fetal renal pyelectasis was 5.2%, which is a common abnormality of fetal kidneys among high-risk pregnant women, and ultrasound is a good screening tool.

Routine scan for all pregnant patients is recommended at mid trimester.