Voiding dysfunction in patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type-1-associated myelopathy (HAM)

Voiding dysfunction was evaluated in 16 of 17 patients with human T-lymphotropic virus type-1 associated myelopathy (HAM). Among 16 patients 11 had both frequency and difficulty in voiding and 12 had urge incontinence of urine. Sensation of vesical filling and voiding remained either intact or only slightly suppressed in all patients. Residual urine ranging from 50 to 320 ml was observed in 14 patients. Urodynamic studies showed in every patient an overactive bladder with involuntary detrusor contraction. Only 2 patients had detrusor sphincter synergia, 6 patients had complete detrusor sphincter dyssynergia and 8 patients had incomplete detrusor sphincter dyssynergia. An overactive bladder associated with detrusor sphincter dyssynergia and less affected vesical sensation seems to be a characteristic urodynamic finding in HAM. These results combined with other neurological findings suggest that in patients with HAM lateral columns of the spinal cord between sacral and ponsmesencephalic micturition centre are mainly affected and that the posterior columns of the spinal cord are relatively less affected.