Clinical Predictors of Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis patients often develop neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction with a potential risk of upper urinary tract damage. Diagnostic tools are urodynamics, bladder diary, uroflowmetry, and post-void residual, but recommendations for their use are controversial.

We aimed to identify clinical parameters indicative of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients.

207 patients were prospectively assessed independent of the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms. We analyzed Expanded Disability Status Scale scores, uroflowmetry, post-void residual, rate of urinary tract infections, standardized voiding frequency, and voided volume in correlation with urodynamic findings.

We found a significant correlation between post-void residual (odds ratio (OR) 4.17, confidence interval (CI) 1.20-22.46), urinary tract infection rate (OR 3.91, CI 1.13-21.0), voided volume (OR 4.53, CI 1.85-11.99), increased standardized voiding frequency (OR 7.40, CI 2.15-39.66), and urodynamic findings indicative of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Expanded Disability Status Scale shows no correlation. Those parameters (except post-void residual) are also associated with reduced bladder compliance, as potential risk for kidney damage.

Therefore, bladder diary and urinary tract infection rate should be routinely assessed to identify patients who require urodynamics.