Clinical trial NCT01391793
Conditions: Acute Urinary Tract Infection Urinary Tract Infection
Keywords: Renal scarring Dexamethasone Child Corticosteroids Pediatric Urinary tract infection Escherichia Coli Urinary Tract Infection
Sponsor: Nader Shaikh
Start date: 2011-09-01; Completion date: 2018-03-30
Enrollment: 546 participants; Allocation: RANDOMIZED; Intervention model: PARALLEL

Brief summary:
In this study the investigators will determine whether corticosteroids given at the time of urinary tract infection help prevent permanent damage to the kidneys.

Detailed description:
Because host inflammatory response is the final and most important step in the formation of renal scars, the use of anti-inflammatory agents may be the best strategy to reduce renal scarring. In animal studies, the use of corticosteroids has been shown to be effective in preventing post-pyelonephritic scarring. We will conduct a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to determine the efficacy of 3 days of daily adjuvant dexamethasone on the incidence of renal scarring 4 to 6 months after a first febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). We hypothesize that the proportion of children with UTI who develop renal scarring will be lower among children who are treated with both dexamethasone and antibiotics as compared with children treated with antibiotics alone.

Arms: arm 1: None arm 2: None
Interventions: intervention 1: Placebo intervention 2: Dexamethasone
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Twice daily for 3 days intervention 2: 0.15 mg/kg/dose twice daily for 3 days

Protocol documents:
Prot_SAP_000.pdf: 
 
 
 
 
1
 
 
Corticosteroids for Children With Febrile Urinary Tract infections 
 
Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan 
 
Document Date: May 29, 2019 
  
IRB Approval Date: May 29, 2019 
 
NCT01391793 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 
 
 
2
 
STUDY PROTOCOL SUMMARY  
 
                                         Corticosteroids for Children With Febrile Urinary Tract Infections 
 
Nader Shaikh, MD, MPH 
Timothy Shope, MD. MPH 
Judith Martin, MD 
Gysella B. Muniz, MD 
Diana Kearney, RN, CCRC 
Mary Ann Haralam, CRNP 
Sonika Bhatnagar, MD, MPH 
Marcia Pope, RN 
Michelle Burke, MS 
Jennifer Nagg, RN, MS 
Robert W. Hickey, MD 
Rose Azrak, BSN 
Howard Rockette, Ph.D 
Masoud Majd, MD 
Marcia Kurs-Lasky, MS 
Andrew Nowalk, MD, PhD 
Ruth Lim, MD 
Eglal Shalaby-Rana, MD 
Gysella Muniz-Pujalt, MD 
Martin Charron, MD 
Marian G. Michaels, MD 
Rose Azrak, BSN 
Daniel M. Cohen, MD 
Greg Lockhart, MD 
Hans G. Pohl, MD 
Ellen R. Wald, MD 
Alejandro Hoberman, MD 
 
 


 
 
 
 
3
 
A. Objectives and Specific Aims 
Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the most frequently occurring serious bacterial infection in young children and 
accounts for more than 1 million office visits (0.7% of all physician office visits), 5 to 14% of emergency 
department (ED) visits, and approximately 40,000 admissions per year.1 UTI involving the renal parenchyma – 
referred to as acute pyelonephritis (APN) – is one of the principal causes of renal scarring in children. Renal 
scarring in childhood has been associated with hypertension, preeclampsia and ESRD decades later.2-4   
Current management of children with UTI has focused on the treatment of the subgroup with vesicoureteral 
reflux (VUR) and on the early treatment of UTI with antibiotics. Although the presence of VUR – backward 
flow of urine from the bladder to the kidney – increases the likelihood of bacteria gaining access to the kidney, 
correction of VUR is not sufficient to prevent scarring. Renal scarring frequently occurs in children who do not 
have VUR,5-8 and the aggressive diagnosis and treatment of children with VUR that started in the 1960’s has 
not been associated with a reduction in the incidence of end stage renal disease.9, 10 Similarly, although early 
antibiotic treatment is clearly necessary, it may not be sufficient to prevent renal scarring in most children with 
UTI. Because signs of UTI in children are relatively non-specific,11 the diagnosis is often delayed.12 
Furthermore, data from both human and animal studies have convincingly shown that once the infection has 
localized to the renal parenchyma, treatment with antibiotics alone does not prevent scarring.12-16 It is now clear 
that the current management strategy is not always effective in preventing renal scarring.  
The proposed study examines whether an alternate strategy – one that focuses on identification and modulation 
of the host inflammatory response – is effective in reducing renal scarring.  
Aim – To determine whether adjuvant therapy with dexamethasone reduces renal scarring in children 
treated with antimicrobials for acute urinary tract infection.   
Because host inflammatory response is the final and most important step in the formation of renal scars, the use 
of anti-inflammatory agents may be the best strategy to reduce renal scarring. In animal studies, the use of 
corticosteroids has been shown to be effective in preventing post-pyelonephritic scarring.17-19 We will conduct a 
randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (n=320 evaluable children, 160 per arm) to determine the 
efficacy of 3 days of daily adjuvant dexamethasone on the incidence of renal scarring 6 months after a first 
febrile UTI. We hypothesize that the proportion of children with UTI who develop renal scarring will be lower 
among children who are treated with both dexamethasone and antibiotics as compared with children treated 
with antibiotics alone. If corticosteroids are effective in preventing renal scarring, this will have profound 
consequences on the treatment of children with UTI and on the incidence of ESRD, preeclampsia, and 
hypertension secondary to childhood UTI.  
B Significance 
I. Acquired Renal Scarring is Associated with Poor Outcome 
Renal scarring in childhood, whether acquired or congenital, is associated with hypertension, preeclampsia, and 
renal failure later in life.2-4, 20 As numerous experimental and longitudinal studies have shown, UTIs cause 
permanent and significant renal scarring.17, 18, 21-27 Furthermore, there is a clear dose-response relationship 
between the number of UTIs and progression of scarring.28-31 On the other hand, it is also clear, especially when 
one looks at referral populations with a large proportion of children with high-grade VUR, that some children 
are born with small poorly-functioning kidneys. The clinical and radiological presentations of congenital and 
acquired scarring, albeit overlapping, are often distinct. Dysplasia, which is often detected prenatally,32 is most 
frequently seen in males with grades IV or V VUR and is characterized by globally atrophied kidney(s) with 
little or no function.33-36 In contrast, children with UTI-related scarring are most often females who present later 
in childhood with focal scars.3, 22, 37  
Studies have shown that both UTI and dysplasia contribute to ESRD. In her 10 to 41 year follow-up of 226 
children with VUR, Smellie noted that those with poor prognosis fell into two categories: boys with severe 
VUR and scarring at presentation, and girls with mild to moderate VUR with scarring secondary to recurrent 


 
 
 
 
4
UTIs.38 The studies by Merrick and Wennerstrom show the same pattern, with both dysplasia and UTI 
contributing to ESRD.20, 29, 39  
By examining the outcome of studies that included mostly children likely to have had acquired renal scarring 
(and not dysplasia) – i.e., studies of females with low-grade VUR or no VUR – one can get a better appreciation 
for the morbidity associated with childhood UTI. Jacobson reported on a 27-year follow-up of 30 patients (87% 
females) with non-obstructive focal scarring following APN in 
childhood.4, 40 Approximately 10% of patients developed end-stage 
renal disease, 23% developed hypertension, and 13% of women 
experienced preeclampsia. Raz followed 63 adult women 
hospitalized with uncomplicated APN for 10-20 years; 8% had 
evidence of impaired renal function (GFR<75 mL/min per 1.73 
m2).41 In a 37-year follow-up study, of 267 children (89% female) 
with VUR, 9% developed ESRD.42 In a long-term study of 100 
adults (83% female) with reflux nephropathy, 22 of the 23 kidneys 
removed showed no histological signs of dyplasia.43  
Recent longitudinal UTI studies that were conducted in primary 
care settings have found that 0% to 2% of children had evidence 
consistent with dysplasia at enrollment (see preliminary data).44-46 
Yet, in these same studies, approximately 15% of children 
developed permanent renal scarring.44, 46 
In summary, there is overwhelming evidence to support the role of 
APN in the development of permanent renal injury in children. Recent studies confirm the notion that earlier 
studies likely overestimated the importance of acquired scarring, but that APN remains an important and 
preventable cause of permanent renal injury.22  
II. Inflammation Leads to Renal Scarring (Figure 1)  
APN occurs when bacteria successfully ascend from the bladder to the kidney. Approximately two-thirds of 
young children with febrile UTI have evidence of renal parenchymal involvement.8, 12, 22 VUR, dysfunctional 
elimination syndrome (DES), 47,48,49-52 and a delay in treatment all predispose to APN. In the kidney, the 
bacterial inoculum triggers a chemokine response that recruits neutrophils from the blood stream. This intense 
neutrophilic response results in the accumulation of oxygen radicals and lysosomal enzymes, which, in some 
individuals, leads to irreversible renal injury. Through a series of animal experiments, Bille,53 Roberts,54 and 
Glauser,13 assessed the role of neutrophil response in the pathogenesis of renal injury. Reduction in neutrophil 
activity through the use of superoxide dismutase,54 cyclophosphamide,13 or colchicine13 was associated with 
decreased scarring in rats or monkeys with experimentally induced APN. These results were striking because 
even though animals treated with these agents had higher bacterial counts in their kidneys, reduction of the 
inflammatory response was associated with less renal damage. The authors concluded that the inflammatory 
response, rather than direct damage from the bacterial infection, is the most important factor in the formation of 
renal scars.  
III. Treatment of VUR is not Sufficient to Reduce Renal Scarring 
VUR provides a mechanism for bacteria to ascend into the kidney and to cause scarring.5, 55 Recent evidence, 
however, suggests that the role of VUR in the pathophysiology of renal scarring has been overstated. First, the 
majority of children (60%-68%) with UTI have no demonstrable VUR,5, 55 and only a very small minority have 
severe (grade IV, V) VUR (<5%).12, 55, 56 Second, VUR is neither necessary nor sufficient for the development 
of renal scarring.5-8, 57, 58 Renal scarring is frequently found in children with no VUR and many children with 
high-grade VUR do not develop scarring. Thus, it appears that the pathophysiology of scarring is multifactorial, 
and that VUR only plays a small role in the development of scarring. Third, the common denominator in all 
cases of post-infectious renal scarring appears to be the inflammatory response to acute infection – not VUR.7, 
55, 59-61 Once bacteria have invaded the renal parenchyma, the inflammatory response appears similar and the 
Host factors
TLR4 polymorphisms
Vesicoureteral reflux
Dysfunctional elimination
Treatment delay
Bacterial factors
Bacterial species
P. fimbrae
Pili
Figure 1. Pathophysiology of UTI
End-stage 
renal disease
Hypertension
Pre-eclampsia
Renal 
scarring
Bacteria in the 
kidney trigger 
inflammatory 
response
Bacteria attach 
to bladder 
epithelium
STEROIDS


 
 
 
 
5
propensity for renal scarring is equally as great whether or not VUR is present. Fourth, aggressive treatment of 
VUR has not reduced the incidence of ESRD.9, 10, 62 It is now clear that a sole focus on the treatment of VUR is 
not likely to significantly impact the incidence of renal scarring for the majority of children with UTI.  
IV. Prompt Treatment of UTI with Antibiotics is not Sufficient to Eliminate Renal Scarring 
Two recent studies suggest that even if early treatment is instituted, once infection is localized to the kidneys, 
there may be little impact on the rates of scarring (Table 1). In these studies, prevalence of renal scarring on the 
12-month DMSA scan was compared in children with 
UTI treated with antibiotics within 24 hours of onset 
of fever to children treated later. While early treatment 
reduced the incidence of APN,12 it did not reduce 
scarring,12, 14 suggesting that once infection localizes 
to the kidney, there may be little impact of antibiotic treatment on the rates of scarring. Indeed, animal studies 
of artificially induced APN have confirmed these observations. In a series of elegant studies, Roberts and 
Glauser independently demonstrated that antibiotic treatment is ineffective in preventing renal scar formation if 
it is started after 30 hours of the onset of APN.15,13 In a similar study, Slotki showed that treatment begun after 
24 hours did not prevent the progression of APN to scarring.16 Furthermore, because UTI is especially difficult 
to diagnose in preverbal children,11,63-65 prompt treatment with antibiotics may not always be possible. These 
findings suggest that antibiotic treatment alone is not sufficient to eliminate scarring.   
V. Use of Anti-Inflammatory Agents Reduces Scarring from UTI 
Altering the inflammatory cascade in animals with UTI has been found to reduce the incidence and severity of 
renal scarring in multiple studies. Cobra venom was used to deplete complement in both rat and monkey models 
resulting in the prevention of chronic renal injury.26 Shimamura used nitrogen mustard to induce 
immunosuppression in rats with UTI; immunosuppressed rats had lower rates of renal scarring when compared 
with immunocompetent rats.27 Meylan showed that rats treated with dapsone, which inhibits neutrophil oxidant 
damage, had a 65% reduction in renal scars compared with controls.24 Huang compared rats with APN that 
were left untreated, treated with antibiotics, treated with anti-inflammatory ibuprofen, or treated with a 
combination of ibuprofen and antibiotics.23 Gross renal scarring was highest in the untreated group and lowest 
in the group receiving combination therapy.  
The use of corticosteroids in conjunction with antibiotic therapy was examined in 3 studies:  
1. In a study by Haraoka, rats were either left 
untreated, treated with delayed ciprofloxacin 
(begun 72 hours after bacterial inoculation), or 
treated with prednisolone (2 mg/kg/d for 4 days) 
in combination with delayed ciprofloxacin 
(Figure 2). Microscopic and/or macroscopic renal 
scarring was observed in 70% of the untreated 
rats, 56% of the rats treated with ciprofloxacin 
alone, and 10% of rats treated with both 
antibiotics and corticosteroids.17  
2. Pohl evaluated the efficacy of corticosteroids in 
reducing post-APN renal scarring in a small number of piglets (N= 36). Piglets with experimentally induced 
APN were randomized to receive ceftriaxone or ceftriaxone plus oral prednisolone. Severity of renal scarring 
was based on histopathologic findings 2 months after APN. Scarring was observed in 60% of control piglets vs 
49% of steroid-treated animals. Given the small sample size, this did not reach statistical significance (p=0.22). 
Nevertheless, severe APN (defined as involvement of >2/3 of a renal zone) was 3 times more likely to resolve 
completely with prednisolone. This study suggests that adjunctive corticosteroid treatment may be most 
effective in moderately and severely affected kidneys.18   
Table 1. Renal scarring according to timing of treatment  
Author 
Early  
Antibiotics 
Late  
Antibiotics 
RR  
(95% CI) 
Hewitt14 
15/43 (35%) 
74/244 (30%) 
0.9 (0.6-1.4) 
Doganis12 
11/24 (46%) 
28/52 (54%) 
1.2 (0.7-1.9) 
0
5
10
15
20
25
No  treatment
Antibiotics
Antibiotics +
Steroids
No.  
Kidneys
Figure 2. Efficiacy of Steroids in rats with APN
No scar
Scar


 
 
 
 
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3. In a recent study, 54 children 3 months to 10 years of age with APN were placed on dexamethasone (0.15 
mg/kg every 6 hours for 3 days) plus ceftriaxone, or on ceftriaxone alone.19 Urinary IL-6 and IL-8 were 
measured at the time of presentation and at 72 hours after initiation of therapy. A significantly larger drop in the 
levels of urinary IL-6 (p<0.001) and IL-8 (p<0.001) was noted in children treated with corticosteroids as 
compared to children treated with antimicrobials alone. Follow-up DMSA scans were not performed.  
In contrast, the use of corticosteroids in animals not concurrently treated with antibiotics did not decrease rates 
of scarring.21, 25, 66 In summary, the evidence to date overwhelmingly supports the use of corticosteroids in 
conjunction with antibiotics for the treatment of UTI. There is a clear need for a randomized controlled trial in a 
large representative population of children with UTI to test the efficacy of steroids in preventing scar formation.  
VI. Efficacy and Safety of Corticosteroids for Other Infectious Diseases 
Corticosteroid use during acute infection decreases the inflammatory response by 1) inhibiting cytokine and 
chemokine production, 2) inhibiting leukocyte migration, 3) inhibiting transcription of inflammatory proteins, 
and 4) upregulating the transcription of anti-inflammatory proteins.67 The efficacy of corticosteroids in reducing 
morbidity and mortality in patients with infectious diseases has been well documented.68 For example, 15 
randomized trials have examined the efficacy of corticosteroid therapy for patients with acute bacterial 
meningitis; most trials demonstrated a reduction in the incidence of sensorineural hearing loss, and some 
demonstrated a reduction in mortality.68 Many studies have examined the use of corticosteroids along with 
antimicrobials during acute bacterial infection. These studies, which included more than 2000 children, have 
shown that the use of adjuvant corticosteroids in the context of acute bacterial infection is safe. For example, in 
children with meningitis, corticosteroid use did not delay clearance of bacteria from the cerebrospinal fluid. 
VII. Safety of Corticosteroids for Children with APN 
In the previously mentioned study by Sharifian,19 there were no adverse events attributed to the use of 
corticosteroids and all 72-hour follow-up urine cultures were negative. These results are important because they 
provide reassurance that use of corticosteroids in children with UTI reduces kidney inflammation without 
interfering with bacterial eradication.  
VIII. Rationale for Outcome Measure and Timing of the Outcome Measure 
DMSA is the current gold standard for assessing presence of renal scars. Risdon, using a pig model, compared 
the location and extent of renal scarring on histopathological examination with DMSA scan findings 
immediately before sacrifice.69 DMSA identified 94% of kidneys with pathology and was 100% specific. 
Approximately 47% of abnormalities noted on scans conducted 2 to 4 months after the index UTI, resolved on 
DMSA scans obtained at a later date. In contrast, 90% of abnormalities 
noted on scans conducted ≥5 months (20 weeks) after the index UTI 
were persistent.70  
 C. Research Design and Methods  
I.  Design  
We propose to conduct a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, 
double-blind clinical trial that will evaluate the efficacy of adjuvant 
dexamethasone (0.15 mg/kg per dose, twice daily for 3 days) in 
preventing renal scarring in young febrile children (2 months to 6 years) 
with a first-diagnosed UTI. 520 participants will be enrolled over a 
3.75-year period from 6 sites. Choice of antimicrobial treatment and 
need for follow-up imaging will be at the discretion of the providing 
physician. If possible, the study nurse will demonstrate how to give the 
child the study medication and will administer the first dose to the child, 
otherwise study medication will be administered to the child no later 
than 48 hours after the first dose of antibiotic treatment for the UTI. A 
flavoring syrup will be mixed by the parent before each separate dose 


 
 
 
 
7
with the medication/ placebo to make the study medication flavor more appealing to the child. The parent will 
draw the prescribed amount of medication/ placebo from the syringed-top medication bottle and push it out into 
a small medication cup provided by the study team. The parent will then draw an equivalent amount of 
flavoring syrup from the flavoring bottle using a separate dosing syringe and push the flavoring out into the 
same medication cup. The parent will then mix the contents in the medication cup. After mixing, the child will 
be able to drink the contents directly from the medication cup or the parent will re-draw the contents using the 
syringe and administer the contents to the child with the dosing syringe. The study medication will be given 
with meals, twice daily to reduce gastrointestinal side effects. If vomiting occurs within 20 minutes of steroid 
administration, an equivalent second dose will be administered. We will ask that the study medication doses 
administered to the child be recorded in a medication diary that will be provided by the study. When the child 
has completed the study, we will ask that the parent return all medication supplies and the medication diary in a 
postage-paid box that will be provided by the study. 
II.      Recruitment  
The centers participating in this study are: Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 
Columbus, the American Family Children’s Hospital which is a children’s hospital within the University of 
Wisconsin system, Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C, Hasbro Children’s Hospital in 
Rhode Island, and Primary Children’s Hospital in Utah. At each site, participants will be recruited at the time of 
UTI diagnosis from the emergency department (ED) and from a network of outpatient/private practice offices. 
Recruitment from the ED will be supervised by an ED physician (ED Enrollment Coordinator) and a part-time 
nurse.  
III.      Eligibility Criteria 
Parents of febrile children 2 months (60 days) to 6 years of age (before sixth birthday) who have pyuria on 
urinalysis or dipstick and who do not meet any of the exclusion criteria will be asked to participate in the study 
(Table 2). We will exclude children younger than 2 months of age because, 1) the incidence of bacteremia is 
highest in this age group,22, 71 2) clinical assessment of children <2 months of age is more difficult. Two studies 
in rats suggested that treatment of near-term premature animals with corticosteroids is associated with increased 
risk of adverse events; therefore, children between 2 and 3 months of age will only be enrolled if they are born 
at term (≥ 37 weeks).72, 73, We will limit the study to children with their first protocol defined UTI. This will 
minimize the number of children with preexisting scars secondary to previous UTIs. To minimize the number of 
children with false positive urinalyses, young children who have urine collected via a bag specimen for culture 
(without a follow-up 
catheterized specimen) will be 
excluded. Other exclusion 
criteria are listed in Table 2. 
See last page of this document 
for changes made to the 
protocol after starting patient 
enrollment.  
IV.    Randomization 
Subjects will be randomized 
in a 1:1 ratio. Randomization 
will occur in blocks of 4. 
Stratification will be based on 
the duration of fever (either 
documented or by touch) prior 
to diagnosis (<48 hours vs 
≥48 hours) and the site of enrollment. That is, children will undergo site-specific blocked randomization 
sequences for each of the strata defined by duration of fever. Subjects are randomized into the appropriate strata 
based on this information. The investigator will be provided with a unique randomization code, which will 
 
Table 3. Summary of Observations 
Observation 
Enrollment 
Day 2- 4***  1 Month 
Monthly 
5 - 24 
mo 
Informed Consent 
X 
 
 
 
 
Detailed Medical History 
X 
 
 
 
 
DES* questionnaire 
X 
 
 
 
 
Constipation questionnaire 
X 
 
 
 
 
Randomization 
X 
 
 
 
 
Blood for biomarkers if parent consents 
X 
 
 
 
 
Urine biomarkers/creatinine 
X 
 
 
 
 
1-month study visit/phone call 
 
 
X 
 
 
Phone call 
 
X 
X 
X 
 
Outcome DMSA** 
 
 
 
 
X 
 
* Dysfunctional elimination questionnaire (for toilet trained children only) 
** For children with reinfections, DMSA will be performed 4 mo. after last UTI 
*** Until the fever has resolved 


 
 
 
 
8
correspond to a code on one of the bottles of medication available at that site. In this way, only the central 
pharmacy will be aware of treatment assignment. 
 
Any protocol defined recurrence will be treated with the same therapy initially given to the child. This treatment 
will be initiated as soon as possible after diagnosis (but no later than 48 hours of starting antibiotic therapy).  
V.      Data to be Collected (Table 3) 
A. Baseline Data 
 
Information on the following potential predictors and confounders of renal scarring will be collected during the 
baseline evaluation: Demographics (sex, race, ethnicity, age), symptoms (type and duration), past medical 
history (including result of prenatal ultrasound), medications [including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug 
use (NSAIDS)], and family history (VUR, UTI, scarring, kidney disease). There will be an age-appropriate 
evaluation for dysfunctional elimination syndrome (DES),74 and constipation.75 Blood, which will be optional if 
the parent is reluctant to have their child’s blood drawn, and urine for all laboratory tests (Table 3) will be 
collected before steroids are administered and a portion of the specimen will be saved for future hypothesis-
driven studies. If the parent consents to the genetic blood draw at the time of enrollment, this sample can be 
drawn at the time of the DMSA scan. 
B.  Follow-up  
Day 2-4 Phone Call 
To monitor the child’s wellbeing and to ensure compliance with medication administration, we will call parents 
for 3 days following the day of enrollment. If the child’s fever has not resolved by day 4, we will continue daily 
phone calls until the child becomes afebrile. With recurrent UTI, the phone call sequence will begin the day 
after the study medication is administered and will end after the fever has resolved. At least two attempts each 
day will be made to contact a parent. Attempts should be made at different times of day or to more than one 
phone number, leaving a message to call us if there is no answer, with a 24-hour return phone number. 
 
A positive urine culture will be defined as either a: 
1) Urine specimen obtained by catheterization with: 
a. The growth of one or more uropathogens at ≥50,000 CFU/mL 
OR 
2) Urine specimen obtained by clean catch with: 
a. The growth of one or more uropathogens at ≥100,000 CFU/mL 
 
For children who have a negative urine culture, corticosteroids will be stopped. All parents will be instructed to 
arrange a follow-up appointment with their primary care provider irrespective of culture results. Because of 
theoretical concerns regarding the anti-inflammatory effects of ibuprofen, parents will be asked to refrain from 
using ibuprofen (or other NSAIDs) during the study.23 
 
1-Month Visit (+/- 2 weeks)  
Approximately one month after enrollment in the study, we will attempt meet parents of enrolled subjects to 
review 1) the results of the urine culture, 2) the results of any imaging tests ordered by the primary care 
provider as part of the management of the UTI, and 3) the plan for the remainder of the study period including a 
tour of the nuclear medicine department where the outcome DMSA will be performed. To save parents from 
making an extra trip, we will try to coordinate this visit with the routine imaging tests ordered by the child’s 
PCP.  If it is very difficult for parents to make this visit in person, we will conduct the visit over the phone. 
 
The research nurse or the PI at each participating site will be available 24 hours a day to parents of enrolled 
children via a study-dedicated cellular phone or hospital-based beeper. Parents will be instructed to (1) contact 


 
 
 
 
9
study personnel in the event of intercurrent febrile illness or urinary symptoms, (2) have their child evaluated 
within 24 to 48 hours and (3) have a urine specimen obtained to evaluate for the presence of UTI. We will call 
parents monthly to determine whether any interim UTIs have been diagnosed. In case of recurrent UTIs, records 
from the visit(s) will be reviewed. Children with febrile re-infections will be retreated, in a blinded fashion, with 
antibiotics and the same study medication (dexamethasone or placebo) that was used at the time of the index 
UTI.  
C. Routine Imaging Tests 
All children in the study will be evaluated with currently recommended, age-appropriate 
imaging tests. Routine imaging tests will be at the discretion of the providing physician. If 
VUR is identified on VCUG, appropriate treatment for VUR will be instituted. Although 
current guidelines recommend that children with VUR be treated with prophylactic 
antibiotics, several studies are underway that may change the way VUR is managed. We will 
use the best available evidence to manage children with VUR. Although the yield of 
ultrasounds in this population is expected to be low, in the context of this research study, a 
normal ultrasound will provide reassurance that few or no children with significant dysplasia 
are included.  
D. Outcome DMSA Renal Scan (5-24 months from the time of enrollment) 
The presence and extent of renal scarring is determined using a DMSA scan. When radiolabeled DMSA is 
given to patients whose tubular cell function is permanently impaired, the scan will show a photon-deficient 
area(s) with or without a loss of renal contour(s) (Fig. 4). Children with no further UTI episodes (94% of 
children in the study)22 will have a DMSA scan approximately 5 months (+/- 2 weeks) to 24 months from the 
time of enrollment) after the index UTI to determine the presence and extent of renal scarring. For children who 
have a re-infection during the follow-up period, the scan will 
be performed at least 4 months after the last UTI. By 
delaying the outcome scan in these children, photopenia due 
to the acute infection will have resolved and will not affect 
the interpretation of the outcome scan. Children will be 
injected with a dose of 50-75 µCi 99mTc-DMSA per Kg 
(maximum dose 3 miC). High-resolution magnified images 
of the kidney will be obtained, including posterior and posterior oblique projections using a high-resolution 
pinhole collimator 1.5 to 3 hours following injection. Scarring will be defined by the presence of cortical 
defects with or without loss of contours.76, 77 These cortical defects will be assessed semi-quantitatively by 
dividing the renal cortex into 12 equal segments (Table 4). The number of renal segments affected will be 
determined and the grade of scarring will be assigned based on a system developed by the Imaging Committee 
of the RIVUR study. DMSA scans will be interpreted by three reference radiologists without knowledge of 
clinical events or treatment arm. Inter-observer agreement will be assessed. To maximize reliability, we will 
request that each participating site send 10 de-identified DMSA scans (from children recently seen) to the 
reference radiologists for review prior to the start of enrollment. If the quality of the scans is suboptimal, 
appropriate changes will be made. 
E. Specimen Processing 
Urine biomarkers – 1 mL of urine will be filtered, frozen, and processed in batches at CHP or the Luminex 
Facility at the Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. This method is well-established and is particularly suitable when the 
sample volume is limited. Concentrations will be measured using multiplex bead technology.  
 
Blood biomarkers – At the time of UTI diagnosis, and if parents’ consent to a blood draw, 1 mL of blood will 
be collected in EDTA plasma tubes for biomarker analysis.  
VI.      Statistical Analysis 
Table 4. Grading system for renal scarring 
Grade 
Description 
1 
2 
3 
4 
1-2 kidney segments affected 
3-4 kidney segments affected 
>4 kidney segments affected 
Global atrophy/diffuse scarring   
Fig. 4. Scarring 


 
 
 
 
10
Analysis plan– Efficacy of corticosteroids in the prevention of renal scarring 
The proportion of children who have any renal scars on the outcome DMSA scan in each treatment arm will 
serve as the principal outcome variable. Renal scarring will be defined as decreased uptake of tracer with or 
without loss of contours. We will also compare the proportion of children with severe scarring between groups. 
Severe scarring will be defined as the presence of grades 3 or 4 scarring on at least one kidney. Three reference 
radiologists, blinded to treatment assignment, will make all determinations and the reading endorsed by the 
majority will be used as the primary outcome measure. The analysis will follow intent to treat principles: 
subjects will be analyzed according to randomized treatment assignment regardless of adherence. Children who 
are found to have a negative urine culture will not be included in the efficacy analysis. These children do not 
have a UTI and are not at risk for developing renal scarring. Up to 6% of children (n=23) are expected to have a 
recurrent UTI in the follow-up period.22 It is estimated that for most of these children (~85%), the recurrent UTI 
episode will not result in renal scarring. As such, the effect of re-infections on the primary analysis will be 
minimal. The incidence and the extent of renal scarring in the two treatment groups will be compared using 
logistic regression. We will also test for statistical interaction for individual variables (age, gender, race, 
mother’s education, fever duration, infecting organism, CRP, ibuprofen use within 24 hours of enrollment, and 
5 preselected urinary biomarkers listed below) and steroid treatment. This is done to investigate the possibility 
that the relative treatment effect differs among patient subgroups. We are aware that tests for interaction 
generally have low statistical power and we will likely detect only marked differences in treatment effects in 
these subgroups. Furthermore, the additional problem of falsely identifying heterogeneity of treatment effect 
among patient subgroups in clinical trials is well known and therefore the interpretation of subgroup differences 
is considered exploratory and will be done with caution. Another analysis will be the proportion of children 
with recurrent febrile UTIs in each treatment group.  
 
Data will be analyzed after approximately one third of enrolled children complete the outcome DMSA scan. If 
there is a significant difference between groups, the DSMB may consider the possibility of terminating the 
study. Type I error will be controlled by using the method of Fleming, Harrington and O’Brien. Testing will be 
conducted at significance levels of 0.005 and 0.048 at the interim and final analysis, respectively.78 
 
We will also compare the mean proportion of scarring in the two treatment groups across the three radiologists 
while adjusting for the correlation resulting because the radiologists evaluated the same set of scans.  
 
Because some of the STARRs participants also participated in the companion “Biomarkers for Pyelonephritis” 
study, in which early DMSA scan is performed to determine whether pyelonephritis is present, we will examine 
the efficacy of treatment in children with and without pyelonephritis.  
 
The study will be powered to detect a 10% difference between the two arms. A 10% absolute difference 
between the two groups translates into a number needed to treat of 10 (i.e., 10 children will need to be treated to 
prevent one child from developing scars). Assuming a 15% rate of scarring in the control group, a two-sided 
alpha of 0.05, a beta of 0.8, a 10% attrition rate, and a 7% rate of false positive urinalysis, 190 children will be 
required per group (i.e., 160 evaluable children per group). However, as the study progressed, we realized that 
30% of children enrolled had a false positive urinalysis, and thus increased the required sample size to 260 
children per group (to arrive at the 160 evaluable children needed). The 15% rate of scarring in the control 
group comes from a meta-analysis we conducted.79 The attrition rate is based on our previous study of 
intravenous versus oral antibiotics for the treatment of UTI which was also a randomized multicenter study with 
a 6-month follow-up DMSA.22  
 
A recent study described several urinary biomarkers that appear promising in differentiating children with 
pyelonephritis from children with cystitis.80 Because only children with pyelonephritis are at risk for renal 
scarring, these markers could potentially be used to select children for treatment with adjuvant corticosteroids. 
As such we will examine for interactions between 5 such biomarkers and treatment effect. Logistic regression 


 
 
 
 
11
models will be fitted by including treatment by biomarker interaction terms (adjusted as appropriate for other 
confounders). We will include the following 5 biomarkers, each as a continuous variable (transformed as 
appropriate): IL-15, MCP1, CXCL1 (also known as GRO-alpha), interferon gamma, and NGAL.  
 
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