Urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: is there a relation with disease-related parameters?

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Urology

Background:

• Multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly affects the lower urinary tract.
• Urinary dysfunction in MS patients requires thorough urological and neurological assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of lower urinary tract symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients.
• To determine the relationship between urodynamic abnormalities, disease duration, and disability status in MS.

Main Methods:

• Screening of 120 multiple sclerosis patients (mean age 42) with urological and neurological examinations.
• Urodynamic and neuro-urophysiological investigations for all patients.
• Renal ultrasound and excretory urography (IVU) in 105 patients to assess morphology and upper urinary tract function.

Main Results:

• Obstructive urinary symptoms were more prevalent than irritative symptoms.
• Urodynamic abnormalities significantly correlated with disease duration (P=0.0001) and disability status (P=0.0001).
• Only 3.3% of patients exhibited upper urinary tract dilatation, which resolved with medical management.

Conclusions:

• Lower urodynamic abnormalities are highly prevalent in multiple sclerosis patients.
• These abnormalities are linked to disease duration and disability.
• Early, urodynamic-guided treatment and follow-up can mitigate morbidity and enhance quality of life.