Assessment of Fetal Hydronephrosis Using the Urinary Tract Dilation Classification System: Implications for Postnatal Treatment and Parental Counseling
Citation Information :
Kumar A, Sharma S, Singh S, Dey M, Dhume P, Dwivedi S. Assessment of Fetal Hydronephrosis Using the Urinary Tract Dilation Classification System: Implications for Postnatal Treatment and Parental Counseling. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2024; 15 (1):53-57.
Introduction: Fetal hydronephrosis is a condition characterized by the dilation of the urinary tract in the fetus, which can have various underlying causes and outcomes. The prevalence of this condition ranges from 1 to 2%, and most cases resolve on their own. The goal of detecting fetal hydronephrosis is to differentiate between physiological and pathological types to provide appropriate treatment and advice. Various grading systems have been used to assess the severity of hydronephrosis, but their diagnostic consistency has been limited. In 2014, a new classification system called the multidisciplinary consensus on the categorization of prenatal and postnatal urinary tract dilation (UTD) classification system was introduced to address these limitations.
Objective: This study aimed to use the UTD classification system to categorize antenatal fetal hydronephrosis and evaluate the need for postnatal treatments such as antibiotics or surgery. The study also assessed the use of the UTD system for parental counseling.
Materials and methods: The study was conducted at the maternal and fetal medicine center over a 3-year period. Pregnant women with a diagnosis of fetal hydronephrosis before 22 weeks of gestation were included in the study. Fetuses were classified into low-risk (UTD A1) and high-risk (UTD A2) groups based on the UTD system. Postnatal follow-up and treatment were performed according to the UTD classification.
Results: Out of 124 cases of fetal hydronephrosis, 80% were classified as low-risk (UTD A1), and 20% were classified as high-risk (UTD A2–3). The low-risk group showed favorable outcomes, with 70% of the fetuses exhibiting no evidence of hydronephrosis postnatally. In contrast, most fetuses in the high-risk group required additional imaging and treatment. The need for antibiotics and surgery increased significantly with higher UTD classification.
Discussion: The study results demonstrate that the UTD classification system is correlated with the risk of neonatally verified hydronephrosis, the need for postnatal imaging, and the requirement for active treatment. This classification system allows for better parental counseling and helps in making informed decisions regarding treatment and follow-up.
Conclusion: The UTD classification system is a reliable and practical method for assessing fetal hydronephrosis. Fetuses in the low-risk group have favorable outcomes, while those in the high-risk group require closer monitoring and treatment. The UTD system provides valuable information for parental counseling and guides the need for further care after an initial diagnosis. However, the study has limitations due to its small sample size and retrospective design, highlighting the need for larger, multicenter studies to validate these findings.
Mileto A, Itani M, Katz DS, et al. Fetal urinary tract anomalies: Review of pathophysiology, imaging, and management. AJR Am J Roentgenol 2018;210(5):1010–1021. DOI: 10.2214/AJR.17.18371
Capolicchio JP, Braga LH, Szymanski KM. Canadian Urological Association/Pediatric Urologists of Canada guideline on the investigation and management of antenatally detected hydronephrosis. Can Urol Assoc J 2018;12(4):85–92. DOI: 10.5489/cuaj.5094
Nguyen HT, Benson CB, Bromley B, et al. Multidisciplinary consensus on the classification of prenatal and postnatal urinary tract dilation(UTD classification system). J Pediatr Urol 2014;10(6):982–998. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2014.10.002
Passerotti CC, Kalish LA, Chow J, et al. The predictive value of the first postnatal ultrasound in children with antenatal hydronephrosis. J Pediatr Urol 2011;7(2):128–136. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2010.09.007
Grignon A, Filion R, Filiatrault D, et al. Urinary tract dilatation in utero: classification and clinical applications. Radiology 1986;160(3):645–647. DOI: 10.1148/radiology.160.3.3526402
Fernbach SK, Maizels M, Conway JJ. Ultrasound grading of hydronephrosis: introduction to the system used by the Society for Fetal Urology. Pediatr Radiol 1993;23(6):478–480. DOI: 10.1007/BF02012459
Riccabona M, Avni FE, Blickman JG, et al. Imaging recommendations in paediatric uroradiology: minutes of the ESPR workgroup session on urinary tract infection, foetal hydronephrosis, urinary tract ultrasonography, and voiding cystourethrography, Barcelona, Spain, June 2007. Pediatr Radiol 2008;38(2):138–145. DOI: 10.1007/s00247-007-0695-7
Onen A. Grading of hydronephrosis: an ongoing challenge. Front Pediatr 2020:8:458. DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.00458
Coplen DE, Austin PF, Yan Y, et al. The magnitude of foetal renal pelvic dilatation can identify obstructive postnatal hydronephrosis and direct postnatal evaluation and management. J Urol 2006;176(2):724–777. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2006.03.079
Duin LK, Willekes C, Koster-Kamphuis L, et al. Foetal hydronephrosis: does adding an extra parameter improve detection of neonatal uropathies? J Matern Foetal Neonatal Med 2012;25(7):920–923. DOI: 10.3109/14767058.2011.600365
De Roo R, Voskamp BJ, Kleinrouweler CE, et al. Determination of threshold value for follow-up of isolated antenatal hydronephrosis detected in the second trimester. J Pediatr Urol 2017;13(6):594–601. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2017.06.001
Dias CS, Silva JM, Pereira AK, et al. Diagnostic accuracy of renal pelvic dilatation for detecting surgically managed ureteropelvic junction obstruction. J Urol 2013;190(2):661–666. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2013.02.014
Dicke JM, Blanco VM, Yan Y, et al. The type and frequency of foetal renal disorders and the management of renal pelvis dilatation. J Ultrasound Med 2006;25(8):973–977. DOI: 10.7863/jum.2006.25.8.973
Kaasen A, Helbig A, Malt UF, et al. Maternal psychological responses during pregnancy after ultrasonographic detection of structural fetal anomalies: a prospective longitudinal observational study. PLoS One 2017;12(3):e0174412. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174412
Sairam S, Habib A, Sasson S, et al. Natural history of fetal hydronephrosis diagnosed on mid-trimester ultrasound. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2001;17(3):191–196. DOI: 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2001.00333.x
Braga LH, Ruzhynsky V, Pemberton J, et al. Evaluating practice patterns in postnatal management of antenatal hydronephrosis: a national survey of Canadian pediatric urologists and nephrologists. Urology 2014;83(4):909–914. DOI: 10.1016/j.urology.2013.10.054
Ross SS, Kardos S, Krill A, et al. Observation of infants with SFU grades 3-4 hydronephrosis: worsening drainage with serial diuresis renography indicates surgical intervention and helps prevent loss of renal function. J Pediatr urol 2011;7(3):266–271. DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2011.03.001