Lower urinary tract function in frontotemporal lobar degeneration: A preliminary observation

The urodynamics underlying lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) has not been reported. Herein, we investigated LUT function in FTLD patients by performing a urodynamics analysis.

We recruited five FTLD patients with LUT symptoms: three men, two women; mean age, 70.4 years; mean disease duration, 3.8 years; mean Hoehn-Yahr grade 1.0. We administered a urinary symptom questionnaire and performed a urodynamics study in each patient.

LUT symptoms were observed in all patients. Urinary urgency/frequency (also called overactive bladder, OAB) was noted in all; OAB wet in three (60%) and mild voiding difficulty in two (40%). The urodynamic abnormalities included detrusor overactivity in four (80%), increased bladder sensation in two, large post-void residual in one (comorbid spondylosis), and latent detrusor underactivity in two. None had apparent outlet obstruction or detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia. Sphincter electromyography was normal in the cases studied.

We observed detrusor overactivity in FTLD patients with LUT symptoms. Although a preliminary observation, this LUT feature, which might reflect the frontal/insular cortex pathology typically associated with FTLD, requires appropriate management and care.