Antenatal Detection of Urinary Tract Abnormalities byUltrasonography

Background and aims: fetal urinary tract anomalies can be reliably detected antenatally by ultrasonography.the present study was done with objective to find out the incidence and pattern of fetal urinary tractabnormalities.methods: a prospective hospital based study included 5450 pregnant women. the ultrasonography was doneafter 20 weeks of gestation and the cases found to have urinary tract anomalies were followed till 4 weeks ofpostnatal life.results: the abnormalities were found in 20 fetuses (0.36%) involving 33 kidney units. the dilated renalsystem was found in 24 (72.7%), multicystic dysplastic kidneys in 6 (18.2%), polycystic kidney disease in 2(6.1%) and renal agenesis in 1 (3.0%) kidney units. five (25%) affected babies died and they had significantlylower mean birth weight, hemoglobin and higher blood urea and serum creatinine levels as compared tosurvivors. renal anomalies resolved spontaneously in 6 (18.2 %) kidney units. the ureteropelvic junction/ ureterovesical junction obstruction was the commonest abnormality followed by ureterovesical reflux at 4weeks life. antero-posterior renal pelvis diameter and renal size were significantly higher in cases in whichanomalies persisted.conclusions: thus, the babies with foetal urinary tract abnormalities require close follow up in post natal liferegarding their persistence and renal function.