Effects of Sterile High Pressure Vesicoureteral Reflux on the Monkey

Abstract

High-grade sterile vesicoureteral reflux was surgically produced in infant monkeys by unroofing the intravesical ureter and partially ligating the bladder neck. Half of the monkeys developed a decrease in renal function and interstitial nephritis. This was due to a high resting bladder pressure, which affected the function and structure of the ureter. When a functional obstruction occurs in the refluxing ureter, renal function may be lost even when urine is sterile. This situation is like that occurring in the patient with posterior urethral valves.