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Lower urinary tract dysfunction and ultrasound assessment of bladder wall thickness in children with cerebral palsy

José Ailton Fernandes Silva1, Márcia de Castro Diniz Gonsalves, Andresa Pianta Saverio

  • 1SARAH Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals, Rio de Janeiro Unit, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ailton@sarah.br

Urology
|June 29, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is common in children with cerebral palsy (CP), affecting over 60%. Bladder wall thickness (BWT) measured by ultrasound does not help diagnose LUTD in these children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Urology
  • Neurology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Cerebral palsy (CP) often leads to neurological impairments affecting bladder function.
  • Lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD) is a common complication in children with CP.
  • Current diagnostic methods for LUTD in CP require further evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence of LUTD in children with CP using symptom questionnaires.
  • To evaluate the utility of ultrasound-assessed bladder wall thickness (BWT) in diagnosing LUTD in this population.
  • To correlate BWT with urinary symptoms and incontinence in children with CP.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 97 children with CP underwent standardized urinary symptom questionnaires.
  • Renal ultrasonography was performed, with BWT measured in 72 participants.
  • Data were analyzed to compare BWT between symptomatic and asymptomatic children, and those with/without incontinence.

Main Results:

  • LUTD was identified in 60.8% of children with CP based on questionnaire responses.
  • The mean BWT was 2.30 mm.
  • No significant difference in BWT was observed between continent and incontinent children, or between those with and without LUTD.

Conclusions:

  • Lower urinary tract dysfunction is highly prevalent in children with cerebral palsy.
  • Ultrasound measurement of bladder wall thickness is not a relevant diagnostic indicator for LUTD in children with CP.
  • Questionnaire-based symptom scoring remains a key method for identifying LUTD in this patient group.
Abstract

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