Vesicourethral dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

Urodynamic evaluation was done 45 times on 41 consecutive patients with multiple sclerosis. Bladder symptoms correlated poorly with any single urodynamic finding and, accordingly, a comprehensive evaluation was necessary to define the underlying pathophysiology. Only 63 per cent of the patients with symptoms of urgency, frequency and urge incontinence actually were found to have uninhibited bladder contractions, while 73 per cent of the patients with obstructive symptoms had detrusor areflexia. Six patients (15 per cent) had a marked change in urodynamic findings upon repeat examination either because of a change in symptomatology or poor response to treatment. An additional 6 patients had vesicoureteral reflux. Bladder symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients should serve more to alert the clinician to the need for urodynamic testing than to mandate specific treatment.