What Is the Role for Pelvic Neurophysiology Testing in Neurourology Practice?

Pelvic neurophysiology testing uniquely evaluates the sacral S2-S4 segmental innervation, but most of these tests assess only somatic innervation and not the splanchnic nerves innervating the lower urinary tract, genitalia, and lower bowel. Nevertheless, there are specific situations in which these tests play an important role in evaluating patients with urogenital complaints

The Impact of Polypharmacy on Management of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease

Lower urinary tract (LUT) symptoms are a common presentation of autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease (PD). Symptoms significantly impact quality of life and are associated with worsening of motor symptoms and increased risk for falls. Different medical co-morbidities can often contribute to LUT symptoms, and a thorough evaluation therefore becomes essential. The effects of medications used for Parkinson's disease and other co-existing medical co-morbidities on LUT symptoms is often underestimated. Treatment options include behavioural therapy, oral agents such as antimuscarinic and beta-3 receptor agonist agents, botulinum toxin and neuromodulation. The first-line oral agents cause adverse effects that may exacerbate pre-existing Parkinson's disease-related symptoms. Furthermore, these oral agents can interact with other medications used in Parkinson's disease, and the challenges posed by interactions on pharmacological effects and metabolism are discussed. Knowledge about drug interactions can help in effective management of such patients and mitigate the risks for developing adverse effects

Sexual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that commonly affects young adults who may be sexually active. Sexual dysfunction is a significant, but often underestimated, symptom of multiple sclerosis, affecting 50-90% of men and 40-80% of women. The types of sexual dysfunction can be categorized in terms of the normal sexual response cycle: sexual interest/desire dysfunction (reduced libido), sexual arousal dysfunction (including erectile dysfunction) and ejaculatory and orgasmic dysfunction. Sexual dysfunction may not only be due to lesions affecting the neural pathways involved in physiological function (primary dysfunction), but also result from general physical disabilities (secondary dysfunction) or psychological and emotional issues (tertiary dysfunction). Comprehensive management should address all these possible contributing problems. Specific pharmacotherapy is only currently available for erectile dysfunction. This review summarizes the available information about sexual dysfunction in men and women with multiple sclerosis

Lower urinary tract dysfunction in the neurological patient: clinical assessment and management

Lower urinary tract (LUT) dysfunction is a common sequela of neurological disease, resulting in symptoms that have a pronounced effect on quality of life. The site and nature of the neurological lesion affect the pattern of dysfunction. The risk of developing upper urinary tract damage and renal failure is much lower in patients with slowly progressive non-traumatic neurological disorders than in those with spinal cord injury or spina bifida; this difference in morbidity is taken into account in the development of appropriate management algorithms. Clinical assessment might include tests such as uroflowmetry, post-void residual volume measurement, renal ultrasound, (video-)urodynamics, neurophysiology, and urethrocystoscopy, depending on the indication. Incomplete bladder emptying is most often managed by intermittent catheterisation, and storage dysfunction by antimuscarinic drugs. Intradetrusor injections of onabotulinumtoxinA have transformed the management of neurogenic detrusor overactivity. Neuromodulation offers promise for managing both storage and voiding dysfunction. An individualised, patient-tailored approach is required for the management of LUT dysfunction associated with neurological disorders

Autonomic Dysreflexia (AD): A serious, rather underestimated condition, a review based on Workshop 11, held on ICS Vienna 2022

International audienceAutonomic Dysreflexia (AD) is a common complication among patients with a Spinal Cord Lesion (SCL) located above the T6 level. Various stimuli below the spinal cord lesion may initiate the onset of AD. In most cases, the phenomenon subsides after the removal of the initial stimuli but sometimes is rapidly reactivated and progressively overexpressed causing uncontrolled blood hypertension with the severe danger of stroke or other cardiovascular accidents (CVAs). The establishment of adequate awareness among the health care providers and individuals with SCL is our main goal which may occur through a deep understanding of the pathophysiology of AD. The proper prevention and management of the syndrome are essential for our patient's life

Effectiveness of the transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation and pelvic floor muscle training with biofeedback in women with multiple sclerosis for the management of overactive bladder

Background: Overactive bladder (OAB) is common in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with a limited number of treatment options. Objective: To investigate the effect of transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (TTNS) and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with biofeedback on OAB symptoms in female MS patients. Methods: This study was conducted at the outpatient MS clinic in Istanbul. At baseline bladder diary, post-voiding residue (PVR), OAB, and Qualiveen Scales (QoL: Quality of Life; Siup: Specific Impact of Urinary Problems on QoL) were assessed. Patients were allocated to receive TTNS or PFMT daily for 6 weeks and reevaluated using the same tests. Results: Fifty-five patients (TTNS = 28, PFMT = 27) were included. Compared with baseline, both TTNS and PFMT groups improved in terms of OAB (p = 0.0001,p = 0.0001), Qualiveen-siup (p = 0.0001,p = 0.0001), Qualiveen-QoL (p = 0.002,p = 0.006), PVR (p = 0.0001,p = 0.21), frequency (p = 0.0001,p = 0.69), nocturia (p = 0.0001,p = 0.19), urgency (p = 0.0001,p = 0.0001), and urge incontinence (p = 0.0001,p = 0.0001). Between-group comparisons showed significant differences in 24-hour frequency (p = 0.002) in favor of TTNS. Conclusion: Our study demonstrates the efficacy of both TTNS and PFMT for managing OAB symptoms in MS, associated with a significant impact on QoL, but did not show superiority of the methods. Further studies are needed to explore differences between these two non-invasive treatments

Systematic review of the prevalence, symptomatology and management options of sexual dysfunction in women with multiple sclerosis

Aims Sexual dysfunction (SD) is highly prevalent in women with multiple sclerosis (MS), however little is known about treatment options. The aim of this paper is to review the prevalence, symptomatology, and management options of sexual dysfunction in women with MS. Methods The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, PsycINFO, PEDro, Database of International Rehabilitation Research, Occupational Therapy Systematic Evaluation of Evidence, , and Current Controlled Trials databases were searched. No limitations were placed on the date. A critical appraisal of the literature on SD in women with MS was performed according to the PRISMA statement. Two reviewers screened and extracted data. Study quality was evaluated using a standardized tool. Results A search of 12 databases identified 61 relevant studies (33 observational, 14 case-control, 4 follow up, 10 interventional). Significant variability in the prevalence of SD and questionnaires used to evaluate SD were observed. The most commonly reported sexual difficulties were problems with desire, arousal, and orgasm. Different demographics and MS-related characteristics were found to contribute to SD. Few studies have evaluated interventions for treating SD, and bias was high because of the weak quality of trial designs. Conclusions SD in women with MS is multidimensional, comparable in prevalence with other neurological disorders and increases with advancing disease. Studies evaluating practical strategies and pharmacological interventions are few, and properly designed trials using MS-specific validated outcome measures of SD are required to inform evidence-based treatment options for this high impact MS-related dysfunction