GENETIC POLYMORPHISMS OF TOLL-LIKE RECEPTOR 4 IN CHILDREN WITH RECURRENT URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS

Recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTIs) remain one of the most common bacterial diseases in pediatric practice and are associated with renal scarring, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. Recent advances in molecular immunology have demonstrated that host genetic factors significantly influence susceptibility to recurrent infections. Among these factors, polymorphisms of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) gene have attracted considerable attention because of their role in innate immune recognition of Gram-negative bacteria. This review summarizes current evidence regarding the biological role of TLR4 polymorphisms in pediatric recurrent urinary tract infections and discusses their potential clinical application in early diagnosis, risk prediction, and personalized treatment strategies.