OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the mild dilatation of the right ureter in women that is sometimes seen on intravenous urography (IVU) represents persistent dilatation after a previous pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The intravenous urograms of 71 men, 63 parous and 27 nulliparous women were evaluated prospectively. The two groups of women were divided into those with and without a confirmed history of urinary tract infection (UTI) as the indication for IVU. producing five groups in all. Measurements were taken on both the 5-min and the compressed or release films on each side. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in ureteric diameters among the five groups for the uncompressed right ureter (P=0.23), the left ureter uncompressed (P=0.32) or compressed (P=0.87). For the compressed right ureter, the difference was significant, with the diameters in the parous women with proven UTIs being larger than in the other groups (P=0.043). CONCLUSION: There is a significant increase in the diameter of the compressed right ureter in the group of parous women with a history of proven UTI. Infection or parity alone do not produce this effect: the combination of the two factors is required.
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether the mild dilatation of the right ureter in women that is sometimes seen on intravenous urography (IVU) represents persistent dilatation after a previous pregnancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The intravenous urograms of 71 men, 63 parous and 27 nulliparous women were evaluated prospectively. The two groups of women were divided into those with and without a confirmed history of urinary tract infection (UTI) as the indication for IVU. producing five groups in all. Measurements were taken on both the 5-min and the compressed or release films on each side. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in ureteric diameters among the five groups for the uncompressed right ureter (P=0.23), the left ureter uncompressed (P=0.32) or compressed (P=0.87). For the compressed right ureter, the difference was significant, with the diameters in the parous women with proven UTIs being larger than in the other groups (P=0.043). CONCLUSION: There is a significant increase in the diameter of the compressed right ureter in the group of parous women with a history of proven UTI. Infection or parity alone do not produce this effect: the combination of the two factors is required.