A prospective study to assess the relative frequencies of different urological dysfunctions in patients with multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a relatively common autoimmune neurological disease. One of the commonly affected organs in MS is the urinary bladder leading to disturbances in bladder function and control of micturition. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefits and convenience of using physiological tests in assessing the bladder function and their efficiency in identifying the exact cause of bladder dysfunction in MS. Materials and Methods: Sixty-three patients (41 females and 22 males) with urinary manifestations associated with MS were selected for the study, in whom 5 urodynamic studies to assess their bladder functioning were performed. All patients visited the Neuromedical Clinic in Basrah General Hospital. Results: Results fond that after applying the UDS, 46 (73.01%) of patients were found to have DO, 14 (22.22%) of patients had detrosal areflexia, and 3 (4.7%) had detrusor sphincter dyssynergia. Conclusion: Urgency, with or without incontinence, and frequency are the most common urological problems that face MS patients; therefore, these complaints should be considered seriously by health-care professionals in addition urodynamic studies can be used as an efficient diagnostic test when MS is diagnosed to determine the exact type of the bladder dysfunction; thus, can plan appropriate treatment.