Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) After renal transplant in non-urologic anuric patients

Abstract

Purpose To report on about LUTS after renal transplant (RTx) in pre-RTx anuric patients without associated urological malformations. Material and Methods Transplanted patients were considered for study if they had been anuric before transplant for at least 6 months, had no urological cause for their renal failure, were neurologically normal, had at least 12 months of follow-up after transplant, and were older than 5 years at follow-up. LUTS were evaluated using a questionnaire adapted from previous scoring systems in order to assess storage and voiding symptoms, bowel habit, and possible effect of symptoms on the patient's quality of life. Results Fourteen patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Median age at RTx was 11 (5-21) years, median duration of anuria before RTx 24 (7-46) months, and median post-RTx follow-up 2.7 (1.9-10.2) years. Thirteen cases presented a normal daytime voiding rate (5 to 7 times a day). One case presented episodes of daytime wetting and 4 suffered of urgency. None of the patients complained of a weak stream or about the need for straining during micturition. Ten cases (71%) presented nicturia and 1 occasional episodes of enuresis, nicturia was unrelated to length of follow-up. Twelve cases had a normal bowel habit. Only 1 patient reported that the symptoms affected her quality of life. Conclusions Pre-RTx anuric patients without associated urological malformation can present long-term storage symptoms. Nicturia was present in 71% of our cases irrespective of the length of follow-up.