[Vesico-sphincteric disorders in patients with Parkinson's disease]

Vesicosphincteric disorders are frequent in patients with Parkinson's disease, due to a lesion of the locus niger of the extrapyramidal tract which no longer secretes sufficient dopamine to activate the nigrostriatal tract. The commonest symptoms are urgent micturition, dysuria or a combination of the two. 50% of patients with Parkinson's disease present with disturbances of micturition and these symptoms may be presenting complaint of the disease in 10% of cases. Cystomanometry reveals detrusor hyperactivity in more than 60% of cases and hypoactivity in less than 30% of case, while dyssynergia is less common. Delayed relaxation of the striated sphincter may sometimes be observed. Urological problems must therefore be distinguished from urological problems in these patients. A combined urological and urodynamic assessment is essential as the risk of incontinence following prostate surgery is 20%. Stress urinary incontinence in women may mask or be associated with urgency. These vesicosphincteric disorders must therefore be treated cautiously with a combination of medical treatment (dopatherapy increases detrusor control), retraining and occasionally surgery after a detailed urodynamic assessment.