Although not a cause of progressive renal damage, loin pain and haematuria syndrome is nevertheless associated with significant morbidity. The management of pain often presents a formidable problem to urologists, physicians and general practitioners. An earlier study noted hold-up of urine in the renal pelvis and implicated this in the pathogenesis of pain. In this study we have failed to demonstrate an excess incidence of disordered urinary peristalsis in loin pain and haematuria syndrome.