Use of dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer (Deflux) for vesicoureteral reflux rising; long-term results vary

For one study, a 12-question survey was sent to the 476 members of the Society for Pediatric Urology and was completed at least in part by 133 physicians. About one-fourth of the respondents indicated they used Dx/HA copolymer as first-line therapy for grade III or higher VUR, while 32% stated it depended on the scenario; based on written comments, parental preference was the most common determining factor.

The majority of respondents (55%) indicated they would use Dx/HA in the presence of renal scarring. For a child who presented with reflux, 82% of respondents indicated they would first try observation with or without chemoprophylaxis before using Dx/HA, and a similar proportion said they would continue observation with or without chemoprophylaxis rather than move on to Dx/HA once the child reached an age considered appropriate for surgery, reported first author Gina Cambareri, MD, a urology resident at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, working with Jeffrey Stock, MD, and co-authors.

Ultrasound was performed by 87% of the respondents for routine follow-up imaging, and two-thirds reported ordering voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) routinely.

"Only 4.8% of the clinicians performed VCUG at 1 year, which was interesting considering the paper by Lee et al showing a low efficacy rate based on VCUG at 1 year," Dr. Cambareri said.