[Urinary and sexual alterations in multiple sclerosis]

Urinary and sexual symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) are frequent, although this question has scarcely been addressed in our country. The aim of this study is to prospectively evaluate the presence of such symptoms in 77 MS patients. We have valued the neurological involvement and the degree of functional disability through the Minimum Dossier of Disability for Multiple Sclerosis. The urinary and sexual symptoms were collected through a directed survey. We have performed an urodynamic study in order to evaluate the bladder function. Urinary symptoms wire observed in 81.8% of patients, with predominance of the mixed syndrome (52%). Males show greater neurological affectation and functional disability, as well as greater urinary symptoms frequency (91%). The most frequent symptoms have been urgency (66.6%), frequency (60.3%) and dysuria (53.8%). The complications have been scarce, of infectious type (14.28%) and with female predominance. The most frequent urodynamic finding has been the detrusor hyperreflexia (60%). The minimum dossier of Disability for Multiple Sclerosis is useful to establish comparative parameters with other studies and with more specific urologic data. The presence of urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis correlated with the degree of neurological (pyramidal and cerebellar) involvement and of functional disability in the Dysfunction Status Escale.