The treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review

This is a systematic review on the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The heterogeneity of the outcome criteria did not allow a meta-analysis of the published evidence. In the last few decades, the therapeutic options for neurogenic bladder dysfunction have broadened. Despite this, no consensus has been reached as to the management of LUTD and LUTS in patients with MS, and the subject remains controversial. Bladder dysfunction is common in MS, affecting 80 %-100 % of patients during the course of the disease. Several studies have shown that urinary incontinence has a severe effect on patients' quality of life, with 70 % of patients classifying the impact bladder symptoms had on their life as "high" or "moderate." Moreover, the progressive feature of MS makes its treatment complex, since any achieved therapeutic result may be short-lived, with the possibility that symptoms will recur or develop de novo.