Diabetic Cystopathy Occurs Independently from Other Atherosclerotic Risks

It has not yet been clarified whether atherosclerotic risks other than diabetes are related to bladder small fiber neuropathy (cystopathy) in type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to answer this question by urodynamics. This was a retrospective study. The subjects were 44 patients: 27 male, 17 female; mean age 67.0 ± 12.7 years; mean duration of diabetes 16.8 ± 13.1 years; mean HbA1c 7.8 ± 1.2%. We analyzed the relationship between diabetic cystopathy (at least one of the following abnormalities in urodynamics: decreased bladder sensation, post-void residual, detrusor overactivity, low-compliance detrusor) and clinical items, i.e., severity and duration of diabetes, nerve conduction, body mass index, blood pressure, cardio-ankle vascular stiffness index, and ultrasound Doppler echography (plaque score, intima-media thickness) in these patients. As a result, urodynamic diabetic cystopathy was not correlated with any of the above systemic items. In conclusion, the above findings suggest that bladder small fiber neuropathy can occur independently from systemic atherosclerotic risks.