Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 20, 2025
Bladder Smooth Muscle Strip Contractility as a Method to Evaluate Lower Urinary Tract Pharmacology
Published on: August 18, 2014
The impact of myasthenia gravis on lower urinary tract functions
Onur Akan1, Emre Can Polat2, Mehmet Gökhan Çulha2
1Department of Neurology, University of Health Sciences, Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşçıoğlu City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Aim:
To assess the functions of the lower urinary tract (LUT) in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).
Materials And Methods:
A total of 36 patients (18 males and 18 females) with MG and 29 healthy controls were enrolled. Participants completed a 3-day voiding diary and responded to questionnaires "Overactive Bladder Symptom Score" (OABSS) and "International Consultation on Incontinence-Short Form" (ICIQ-SF). All patients underwent uroflowmetry and ultrasonography (US). The data were compared based on the onset of disease and serological status.
Results:
The most common urinary symptoms were nocturia (80.5%), incontinence (61%) and urgency (47%). OABSS was higher in patients than controls (P = .008). Duration of urinary symptoms was longer, and nocturia was more common in late-onset MG (LOMG) than in early-onset MG (EOMG; P = .029, P = .023). The duration of disease and urinary symptoms statistically increased in ACh-Ab (-) group compared with ACh-Ab (+) group (P = .003, P = .027). Night-time urination frequency significantly increased while daytime voided volume (VV) decreased in LOMG compared with EOMG (P = .003 and P = .01). Residual volume on the US was significantly higher in LOMG than that in EOMG (P = .004). The duration of disease was positively correlated with tQmax and daytime urination frequency (P = .013, r = .48; P = .016, r = .398). A negative association was found between duration of disease and daytime VV (P = .04, r = -.344).
Conclusion:
LUT dysfunction may manifest disease in MG, particularly in late-onset forms. The lack of ACh-Ab seemed to prolong the duration of disease and urinary disturbances.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Myasthenia Gravis: Overview and Treatment
These antibodies interfere with the function of the nicotinic receptors in three ways: by binding to the receptor and disrupting acetylcholine binding; by causing cross-linking of receptors which...
01:15Myasthenia Gravis: Diagnostic Tests
The edrophonium test is a diagnostic tool for myasthenia gravis. It involves...
01:28Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
01:26Chemical Synapses
Because chemical synapses depend on the release of neurotransmitter molecules from synaptic vesicles to pass on their signal, there is an approximately one millisecond delay between when the axon potential reaches the presynaptic terminal and when the neurotransmitter leads to opening of postsynaptic ion channels. Additionally, this signaling is...
01:21Nursing Assessment of the Genitourinary System I: Health History
01:30Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacological Actions
At the neuromuscular junction, these agents work by inhibiting the breakdown of acetylcholine, allowing it to remain bound to the receptor and bind to nearby receptors. This process leads to repetitive firing of the endplate, causing muscle...