Clinical Trial: A Randomized Controlled Trial on Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Children With Vesico-Ureteral Reflux

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Antibiotic Prophylaxis After Acute Pyelonephritis for Prevention of Urinary Tract Infections in Children With Vesico-Ureteral Reflux.

Brief Summary: The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing pyelonephritis and in avoiding the appearance of new scars in a sample of children under 36 months with vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR).

Detailed Summary:

In recent years, the effectiveness of continuous antibiotic prophylaxis in children with vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) has been intensely discussed. The question is not only whether antibiotics are effective in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI), but also whether they alter the natural history of disease and help to prevent the appearance of new kidneys scars. The evidence on the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis is scanty: randomised controlled trials (RCT) published until now are poorly designed and carried out in very heterogeneous samples of children, i.e. spanning from 6 months to 14-18 years of age and pooling patients with and without VUR. A recently updated Cochrane Systematic Review concludes that high quality RCTs are needed to determine the effectiveness of long-term antibiotics for the prevention of UTIs in susceptible children. Moreover, the presence of VUR has not been firmly shown to be a risk factor for recurrence of pyelonephritis, and a direct association between VUR and the presence of scars or the appearance of new scars has not been demonstrated; there is just an association between VUR of grade IV-V and prenatal renal dysplasia, almost exclusively in male infants. In spite of this uncertainty, several practice guidelines recommend long term antibiotic prophylaxis in children with different degrees of VUR.

The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing pyelonephritis and in avoiding the appearance of new scars in a sample of children under 36 months with VUR.

Comparison: In a multicentre trial, 100 patients with VUR diagnosed with cystourethrography after a first episode of acute pyelonephritis or for prenatal evidence of pyelectasia will be assigned randomly to receive prophylaxis or not. Randomization will be carried out using a cent
Sponsor: IRCCS Burlo Garofolo

Current Primary Outcome: Recurrence of pyelonephritis [ Time Frame: up to 4 years after enrollment ]

Urinalysis and urine culture performed at each episode of fever or when symptoms of UTI occurred (eg, change in the smell of urine, anorexia, irritability)


Original Primary Outcome:

  • Recurrence of pyelonephritis
  • Renal scars


Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Renal scars [ Time Frame: 4 years after enrollment ]
    DMSA renal scan
  • Persistence of vesico-ureteral reflux [ Time Frame: 4 years after enrollment ]
    Cystourethrography and renal ultrasound


Original Secondary Outcome: Persistence of vesico-ureteral reflux

Information By: IRCCS Burlo Garofolo

Dates:
Date Received: September 28, 2006
Date Started: November 1999
Date Completion:
Last Updated: April 27, 2015
Last Verified: April 2015