Objective To review the morbidity and complications of ureteric stent insertion and to evaluate speci®cally the effect of an indwelling ureteric stent on the changes in hydronephrosis after stenting. Patients and methods In a prospective study, 110 renal units with a stent in place were evaluated in 90 patients. Of the 110 stents, 52 were left in place for 3 months, 23 for 6, 11 for 9, 19 for 12 and ®ve (forgotten stents) for 13±30 months. The patients were followed using plain abdominal X-ray at 1 and 30 days after stenting. They were further followed using ultrasonography and plain ®lms every 3 months until the scheduled date for stent removal or the appearance of complications. Results Thirty-four patients had fever and bacteriuria after stent insertion. Of the 110 stents, 11 (10%) fragmented and nine (8%) migrated. Seventeen patients complained of¯ank pain on voiding. In 21 renal units (19%) there was no change in the severity of hydronephrosis, whereas in six (5.5%) hydronephrosis developed or worsened after stenting. Conclusion Although ureteric stenting is undoubtedly an important procedure to relieve ureteric obstruction, the indications for stent insertion should be considered carefully in every patient. The close follow-up of stented patients is valuable for the early detection of morbidity or complications and in such cases the stent should be removed or exchanged as soon as possible.

Plasma TGF-beta(1) levels are markedly elevated in men with prostate cancer metastatic to regional lymph nodes and bone. In men without clinical or pathologic evidence of metastases, the preoperative plasma TGF-beta(1) level is a strong predictor of biochemical progression after surgery, presumably because of an association with occult metastatic disease present at the time of radical prostatectomy.