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 de­velopment of scars in kidneys. The aim of this study is to demonstrate a correlation (if any) between renal scar, and size of the scar induced by BCG vaccine in children who had experienced urinary tract infections. In case of detec­tion of any correlation, BCG scar formation can be used as a determinative marker of renal scars, which develop following urinary tract infection. Methods: Patients with a history of urinary tract infection at least 4 months old who had undergone 99mTcDMSA scanning were included in this study. Vertical and hori­zontal diameters of BCG scars of the patients in the study group were measured. For statistical analysis the greatest diameter was taken into consideration, and the patients were divided into 2 subgroups based on the greatest di­ameter of their BCG scars (Subgroups 1, ≤5 mm, and 2, >5 mm). The patients were also evaluated in 2 groups as those with (Group 1) or without (Group 2) scars. Both groups were compared with subgroups with the largest scar diameters of ≤ 5mm or >5 mm Results: 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 not different (p=0.414). No significant difference was found in size of the BCG scars between renal scar positive and negative groups (p>0.05). Conclusion: No correlation was found between develop­ment of renal scar and the size of BCG scar in children after urinary tract infection.