Low Serum Testosterone Level Predisposes to Artificial Urinary Sphincter Cuff Erosion

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Andrology
• Medical Device Research

Background:

• Artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) implantation is a common treatment for urinary incontinence.
• Cuff erosion is a known complication of AUS devices.
• The role of serum testosterone in AUS complications requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between low serum testosterone levels and the risk of artificial urinary sphincter cuff erosion.
• To identify potential risk factors for AUS cuff erosion.

Main Methods:

• Serum testosterone levels were measured in 53 patients undergoing AUS implantation.
• Low testosterone was defined as <280 ng/dL.
• Statistical analyses included Chi-square, Student t tests, Kaplan-Meier, binary logistic, and Cox regression.

Main Results:

• 90% of patients with AUS cuff erosion had low serum testosterone, compared to 36.4% without erosion (P < .001).
• Low testosterone was the sole independent risk factor for erosion (OR 15.78, P = .002).
• Low testosterone significantly increased the risk of erosion (HR 7.15, P = .009).

Conclusions:

• Men with low testosterone levels have a substantially higher risk of experiencing AUS cuff erosion.
• Pre-implantation counseling regarding this risk is essential.
• The efficacy of testosterone resupplementation in mitigating this risk remains undetermined.