Is there a correlation between the size of the BCG scar and renal scar of urinary tract infections in children?

Objective: Pyelonephritis cause cellular death, and developmentof scars in kidneys. The aim of this study is todemonstrate a correlation (if any) between renal scar, andsize of the scar induced by BCG vaccine in children whohad experienced urinary tract infections. In case of detectionof any correlation, BCG scar formation can be usedas a determinative marker of renal scars, which developfollowing urinary tract infection.Methods: Patients with a history of urinary tract infectionat least 4 months old who had undergone 99mTcDMSAscanning were included in this study. Vertical and horizontaldiameters of BCG scars of the patients in the studygroup were measured. For statistical analysis the greatestdiameter was taken into consideration, and the patientswere divided into 2 subgroups based on the greatest diameterof their BCG scars (Subgroups 1, ≤5 mm, and 2,>5 mm). The patients were also evaluated in 2 groupsas those with (Group 1) or without (Group 2) scars. Bothgroups were compared with subgroups with the largestscar diameters of ≤ 5mm or >5 mmResults: Study population included 108 (82 girls) patients.DMSA detected scars in a total of 51 patients.Mean ages of the patients with and without scars were notdifferent (p=0.414). No significant difference was found insize of the BCG scars between renal scar positive andnegative groups (p>0.05).Conclusion: No correlation was found between developmentof renal scar and the size of BCG scar in childrenafter urinary tract infection. J Clin Exp Invest 2013; 4 (1):8-12Key words: BCG scar, renal scar, urinary tract infection,children