Neuropathic bladder as a cause of chronic renalfailure in children in developing countries
Received: 23 September 2005 / Revised: 5 November 2005 / Accepted: 6 November 2005 / Published online: 2 March 2006
Abstract Neuropathic bladder is considered a threat to the
kidneys if not managed appropriately. In this study, wereport our experience with neuropathic bladder at King
Neuropathic bladder is considered a major risk factor for
Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) as a cause of
chronic pyelonephritis and progressive renal damage [
chronic renal failure (CRF) in the pediatric age group. This
There are numerous causes of neuropathic bladder
retrospective study included all children diagnosed with
including open and closed spina bifida, sacral agenesis,
neuropathic bladder who presented with moderate or
spinal cord tumor, trauma, transverse myelitis, and auto-
severe CRF over a 4-year period from December 2000 to
nomic neuropathy [Furthermore, no anatomical or
December 2004 [glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at
neurological defect could be found in a small group of
presentation <50 ml/min per 1.73 m2]. Fifteen patients
children who manifested signs of bladder sphincter inco-
were diagnosed with neuropathic bladder; group A
ordination and intravesical functional obstruction. The
consisted of ten patients with spina bifida and one with
latter condition is called nonneurogenic neurogenic bladder
sacral agenesis and group B consisted of four patients with
(NNNB) or occult neuropathic bladder (Hinman syn-
nonneurogenic neurogenic bladders (NNNB). The mean
drome) , ] and it carries the same risks to the kidneys
age±SD at presentation was 6.2±3.8 years, GFR was 24.2±
The usual presentation of NNNB is incontinence with
12.4 ml/min per 1.73 m2, and creatinine was 289.9±
daytime wetting as a result of impaired bladder sensation
253.2 μmol/l. There were no differences in the age at
and poor bladder emptying [or recurrent urinary tract
presentation to a pediatric nephrologist or the degree of
renal failure at presentation between the two groups. Clean
The aim of the management of neuropathic bladder is to
intermittent catheterization (CIC) was not started in all
preserve renal function and to improve continence [
patients before presentation to KAUH, except in two
The best way of preserving renal function is by keeping the
children. Five children required dialysis as they were in
bladder empty, at low pressure, and free of infection
end-stage renal failure (ESRF). All except one received
Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) has made a
peritoneal dialysis (PD). Their mean age at the start of
tremendous difference to the management of such patients,
dialysis was 10.8±1.7 years. Neuropathic bladder due to
with an improvement in continence, reduction of renal
spina bifida or NNNB is an important cause of CRF in
problems, and UTI However, CIC has psychosocial
developing countries. There was a considerable delay in the
impact on the treated children and their families ,
diagnosis of NNNB and a significant delay in starting CIC
and probably the rejection of this form of treatment is more
common in Arab cultures like ours. With the recentmodalities of treatment, chronic renal failure (CRF) is
Keywords Neuropathic bladder . Chronic renal failure .
rarely seen in children with neuropathic bladder; however,
there is a risk that this may merely be postponed intoadulthood
Spina bifida remains a problem in Saudi Arabia as the
incidence of neural tube defects (NTD) appears to be non-declining over the years [, despite a recent folic acid
food fortification. Furthermore, high prevalence of con-
Paediatrics Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital,
sanguinity of the parents in Saudi Arabia was reported as a
P.O. Box 80215, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
significant risk factor for spina bifida. Consanguinity of the
parents was found in 89% of the spina bifida parents and in
only 67% of the controls (p<0.0005) ].
In this study we report our experience at King Abdulaziz
was 1:4. Ten patients had spina bifida, one patient had
University Hospital (KAUH) with children with neuro-
sacral agenesis, and four had occult or nonneurogenic
pathic bladder who presented with CRF. We discuss the
possible causes of their presentation early in life with CRF.
At presentation to our pediatric nephrology clinic, their
mean age±SD was 6.2±3.8 years (range: 1.5–13), GFR was24.2±12.4 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (range: 5–44), and creati-
nine was 289.9±253.2 μmol/l (range: 69–925).
All children with spina bifida (except two) had hydro-
This retrospective study covered all pediatric cases
cephalus which required ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt.
diagnosed with neurogenic bladder who presented with
Similarly, all of them were paraplegic except two who had
chronic renal failure (CRF) to the pediatric nephrology
minimal neurological involvement of their lower limbs and
clinic over 4 years from December 2000 to December
were able to walk. All of them had operations to close the
2004. Only children with glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
spina bifida in the first 2 days except one who underwent
of less than 50 ml/min per 1.73 m2 were included in the
study. GFR was measured using diethylenetriaminepentaa-
Table summarizes the clinical and radiological data of
cetic acid (DTPA) scan or calculated using the Schwartz
group A consisting of children with spina bifida or sacral
agenesis and the clinical and radiological data of group B
The patient’s notes were reviewed for demographic data,
consisting of children with occult or nonneurogenic
age at presentation to a pediatric nephrologist, clinical
neurogenic bladder. There were no differences in the age
presentation, radiological investigations, and laboratory
at presentation to a pediatric nephrologist or the degree of
renal failure at presentation between the two groups.
Results are expressed as mean+SD or median (range).
All children with NNNB in group B presented with
The t-test assuming equal variance was used to compare
recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) and two of them
were also reported as wet during the day (the other twowere young and in nappies).
The diagnosis of NNNB in group B was made on the
bases of radiological investigations and urodynamicstudies. All of them had radiological and urodynamic
Fifteen patients presented with a variable degree of CRF
evidence of neuropathic bladder with no neurological
[six moderate CRF (GFR 49–30 ml/min per 1.73 m2), four
abnormalities. All of them had normal magnetic resonance
severe CRF (GFR 29–15 ml/min per 1.73 m2), and five
end-stage (GFR <15 ml/min per 1.73 m2)]. All were of
CIC was started by the pediatric nephrologist in all
Arab ethnic origin (67% Saudi) and the female:male ratio
patients except two patients in group A, in whom it was
Table 1 Clinical and radiological data of groups A and B. GFR glomerular filtration rate, MCUG micturating cystourethrogram, VUR
vesicoureteral reflux, PUJ pelviureteric junction obstruction, MRI magnetic resonance imaging, CIC clean intermittent catheterization
hydronephrosis and absent left kidney (1)
Sacral agenesis (1), leptomeningeal cyst (1)
started by urologists before their presentation. Five
with a thickened wall is usually found. Urodynamic studies
children required dialysis as they were in end-stage renal
usually reveal detrusor sphincter dyssynergia. The etiology
failure (ESRF), four in group A and one in group B. All
of this voiding disturbance remains unclear; however, it
except one received peritoneal dialysis (PD), two with
results from functional urinary tract obstruction and can
automated PD (APD) and two with continuous ambulatory
initiate and perpetuate vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) as well
peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Their mean age at the start of
as encourage UTI and renal damage [].
dialysis was 10.8±1.7 years. Two children with shunted
NNNB has traditionally been believed to represent a
hydrocephalus were dialyzed peritoneally. One of them had
disorder of older children; however, recently it has been
no infections or other complications for 1 year, while the
recognized as a severe form of dysfunctional voiding that
other one had peritonitis which was complicated by a staph
may be present even in the neonatal period []. In our
epidermis shunt infection. The latter was changed to
series, the younger patient with NNNB was 1.5 years old.
hemodialysis and required externalization of the VP shunt
The radiological and urodynamic investigations (Table
for few weeks. Only one patient was started on hemodi-
revealed similar results to those previously reported in
alysis from the beginning because of social reasons. Three
young children with NNNB []. These were thick-walled,
patients continued on CIC, while two stopped it, as they
poorly compliant bladders with incomplete bladder
were continent and they felt that it was difficult to do both
emptying causing significant upper tract pathology (VUR
PD and CIC. All of them received anticholinergic agents
and hydronephrosis). Boys with trisomy 21 may be at
particular risk for NNNB However, none of our
The patients on dialysis were advised to have renal
patients with NNNB had Down syndrome.
transplantation after correcting their lower urinary tracts.
It is interesting to observe that all the patients with spina
However, none of the patients had renal transplantation
bifida had received attention to their neurological problems
because of the unavailability of donors.
as all of them had operations for the myelomeningocele and
The rest of the patients were managed with CIC,
the hydrocephalus. In contrast, most of them were not
anticholinergic drugs (oxybutynin), prophylactic antibio-
advised about the risk to their kidneys from the associated
tics, and conservative measures for CRF (phosphate
neuropathic bladder. This delay in the management also
binders, active vitamin D, erythropoietin, iron, folic acid,
explains the high percentage of VUR in our cohort in both
sodium bicarbonate, antihypertensive agents if needed, and
groups (A and B), as regular emptying of the bladder was
high calorie, low protein, low phosphate and potassium
not commenced early and anticholinergic drugs were not
diet). Two of them were lost to follow-up, one died from
instituted to reduce intravesical pressure. Furthermore, the
nonrenal causes (toxic shock syndrome), and the remaining
lack of good medical follow-up and management including
seven were followed up for 2.7±1.1 years. Five of them had
early diagnosis and treatment of acute pyelonephritis could
fairly stable kidney function while the last two showed a
also have contributed to the bad outcome in these patients.
A multidisciplinary approach in a specialized spina bifidaclinic would help to reduce this observed delay incommencing the appropriate management to protect the
One-third of our cohort required renal replacement
All the patients in our study group presented with a
therapy (RRT) at a rather young age. PD was the main
considerable degree of CRF at an early age. This finding is
modality of RRT as it is the dialysis of choice in the
different from reports from Western countries [,
majority of pediatric patients. However, the presence of VP
Although renal complications were reported as the most
shunt makes it more complicated as those children are
frequent cause of long-term morbidity in children with
prone to develop shunt infection as was the case in one of
neuropathic bladder, CRF is rarely seen at an early age ,
our patients and has been reported by others More
, This could be explained by the delay in the
recent reports demonstrated that PD under close monitor-
management as most of the children were not started on
ing is not contraindicated in children with myelomeningo-
CIC until presentation to pediatric nephrology or urology
cele, regardless of the presence of VP shunt or any stoma
clinics, which occurred after multiple scars and significant
]. However, if cerebrospinal fluid diversion is needed
renal damage had already occurred. Similar reports of
simultaneously or after starting PD, an extraperitoneal site
neurogenic bladder causing CRF were reported from other
would be a better choice than VP shunt. This may avoid the
developing countries [], and this could be attributed to
risk of intra- and postoperative infection in the PD catheter,
the same lack of early awareness, early diagnosis, and
secondary to surgical intervention for VP shunt insertion.
appropriate treatment of the problem, which are vital to
Loss of peritoneal function is a potential late risk related to
avoid chronic renal insufficiency in these patients.
exposure to cerebrospinal fluid and PD. Furthermore, spina
NNNB was not reported as a cause of CRF in the
bifida patients on PD present specific diagnostic challenges
pediatric literature. Patients with NNNB present with
due to overlapping symptoms (e.g., vomiting, abdominal
symptoms similar to those with a neurogenic bladder, but
tenderness, fever) secondary to PD- or VP shunt-related
no neurological or anatomical lesions can be identified.
complications (e.g., peritonitis, visceral injury by devices)
These children have diurnal wetting and recurrent urinary
or primary disease (e.g., neurogenic bladder, pyelonephri-
infections. Radiologically, a trabeculated, enlarged bladder
tis) with potential risks of delaying adequate treatment.
Early evaluation by a pediatric surgeon and a neurosurgeon
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