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Biomedical subjects

P Abrams

Publications and source records attributed to P Abrams.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Relationships between lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder outlet obstruction: results from the ICS-"BPH" study.

Despite the lack of evidence in the literature for close relationships between lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder outlet obstruction, the majority of urologists rely on symptomatology when selecting patients for prostatic surgery. We investigated the relationships between a wide range of lower urinary tract symptoms from the ICSmale questionnaire and the results of urodynamic pressure and flow studies. We evaluated 933 patients with lower urinary tract symptoms suggestive for bladder outlet obstruction from 12 countries who participated in the ICS-"BPH" study with the ICSmale questionnaire and urodynamic pressure and flow studies. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were obtained between symptoms and measures of bladder outlet obstruction. There was little or no correlation between a wide range of symptoms and the results of free uroflowmetry and pressure and flow studies. From symptoms alone, it is not possible to diagnose bladder outlet obstruction. Pressure and flow studies and symptom profiles measure different aspects of the clinical condition that should be viewed separately in the evaluation and treatment decision of the patient presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Humans↗

Sexual dysfunction in men with lower urinary tract symptoms.

The conventional view that sexual function is not adversely affected by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), assumed to be caused by enlargement secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), was investigated in this study of 423 men aged 40 years and over in a community population in the UK and 1271 urology clinic attenders aged 45 years and over in 12 countries, using the ICSmale and ICSsex questionnaires. Sexual dysfunction was found to be common: in the community, age standardized prevalences of reduced rigidity of erections were 53%, reduced ejaculation 47%, and pain on ejaculation 5%; in clinic men, age standardized prevalences of reduced rigidity of erections were 60%, reduced ejaculation 62%, and pain on ejaculation 17%. Sex lives were reported to be spoiled by LUTS in 8% of community men and 46% in the clinic. There were negative trends for age in the extent to which clinic men were bothered by these symptoms, although older men were still very concerned. Significantly raised odds ratios of sexual dysfunction were found in those with LUTS, especially storage symptoms associated with incontinence. Urinary flow rates were not associated with sexual symptoms. Sexual dysfunction is, therefore, strongly associated with LUTS, is a matter of concern to the men affected, and should be taken into account when managing patients with LUTS.

Adult↗

Morning vs evening dosing with doxazosin in benign prostatic hyperplasia: efficacy and safety.

Three hundred and fifty-three patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia were randomized to doxazosin or placebo, with morning or evening dosing, to compare the effect of dosing time on the efficacy and safety of doxazosin treatment. After 24 weeks of treatment, the mean International Prostate Symptom Score had decreased by 6.8 units in the doxazosin group compared with 4.5 units in the placebo group (P=0.003). Improvements in Q(max) of 2.03 ml/s and 0.30 ml/s were seen for the doxazosin and the placebo groups, respectively (P<0.001). No differences in efficacy or safety between the morning- and evening-dosed subgroups were observed. Doxazosin was significantly more effective than placebo at improving symptoms of BPH and urinary flow rates at endpoint, and was well tolerated. The time of dosing did not appear to influence the efficacy or safety of doxazosin, suggesting that there is no need to restrict administration of doxazosin to the evening in BPH patients.

Journal Article↗

The natural history of urinary symptoms during adolescence.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and natural history of urinary symptoms and incontinence among healthy adolescent schoolchildren. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study using a confidential questionnaire administered to an original cohort of 1176 local schoolchildren at 11-12 years and again at 15-16 years old. RESULTS: There was a decrease in the prevalence of urinary symptoms with age. Daywetting was reported by 12.5% of children aged 11-12 years and 3.0% of children aged 15-16 years. Nocturnal enuresis was reported by 4.7% of children at 11-12 years and 1.1% at 15-16 years. Some of the children reporting daywetting and nocturnal enuresis at 15-16 years old had not reported these symptoms at 11-12 years old. CONCLUSION: Urinary symptoms become less prevalent with age, but are reported by a significant number of healthy schoolchildren.

Adolescent↗

Detrusor myectomy for detrusor overactivity: a minimum 1-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and urodynamic outcome of partial detrusor myectomy in patients with idiopathic detrusor instability and neuropathic hyper-reflexia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients with idiopathic detrusor instability and 10 with hyper-reflexia and symptoms not responding to non-surgical treatment underwent partial detrusor myectomy. The clinical and urodynamic results before and after myectomy were compared and the patient's subjective assessment of the outcome documented. RESULTS: There was an overall improvement in 17 of 27 patients (63%) but the success rate was higher in those with idiopathic instability (12 of 17) than in those with neuropathy (five of 10). There was urodynamic evidence of reduced bladder contractility and an improvement in the storage characteristics of the bladder in most of the patients treated. CONCLUSIONS: Partial detrusor myectomy is relatively simple and is associated with minimum morbidity and an acceptable success rate. The procedure alters the urodynamic behaviour of the bladder and leads to symptomatic and objective improvement, giving better results with idiopathic than with neuropathic detrusor overactivity. Detrusor myectomy may be offered to patients with detrusor overactivity unresponsive to conventional management. The option of enterocystoplasty is still open to patients with an unsuccessful outcome. However, the long-term results and surgical variations of the technique should be evaluated further.

Follow-Up Studies↗

Efficacy and safety of tolterodine in patients with detrusor instability: a dose-ranging study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of tolterodine, a new antimuscarinic agent, and define the optimum dosage in patients with symptoms of detrusor instability (urgency, increased frequency of micturition and/or urge incontinence). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study was carried out; after a 1-week run-in period to establish baseline values, 81 patients were randomized to receive placebo or tolterodine 0.5, 1, 2 or 4 mg twice daily for 2 weeks. Micturition (diary) variables, urodynamics and subjective urinary symptoms were assessed after 2 weeks' treatment. RESULTS: A per-protocol analysis of efficacy in 64 patients showed dose-related improvements in recorded micturition and urodynamic variables, e.g. at a dosage of 2 mg twice daily, the frequency of micturition, episodes of incontinence and pad use were reduced by 20%, 46% and 29%, respectively, while the volume at first contraction increased by 89 mL. The 4 mg dosage was associated with a large increase in residual urinary volume and an increased incidence of dry mouth. The incidence of adverse events (mainly mild or moderate antimuscarinic effects) was comparable with placebo at tolterodine dosages of < or = 2 mg. No serious adverse events were observed and tolterodine had no clinically significant impact on electrocardiographic or laboratory findings. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that tolterodine offers an effective treatment for the symptoms of detrusor instability. The optimum dosage appears to be 1-2 mg twice daily.

Adult↗

A novel therapy for nocturnal polyuria: a double-blind randomized trial of frusemide against placebo.

OBJECTIVE: To report a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of an afternoon dose of the diuretic frusemide, used to establish an early evening diuresis and so diminish nocturnal voiding frequency and voided volume in elderly men presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: After a 2-week placebo run-in period, 49 men aged > 50 years were randomized to receive 40 mg of frusemide or placebo, taken 6 h before their usual bedtime. Day and night-time frequency and voided volume during the run-in and treatment periods were compared between the placebo and frusemide groups. RESULTS: In the 43 men completing the study, there was a significant reduction in night-time frequency (-0.5 and 0) and percentage night-time voided volume (-18% and 0%) in those taking frusemide compared with placebo. Of patients on active treatment, seven of 19 had a reduction in night-time frequency of > or = 1, compared with only one of 20 on placebo, and 14 of 21 felt that frusemide had helped their nocturia, compared with only five of 22 on placebo. CONCLUSION: Men with LUTS whose most prominent symptom is nocturia should complete a frequency-volume chart. In those with nocturnal polyuria, 40 mg of frusemide resulted in a significant reduction in night-time frequency and percentage voided volume.

Aged↗

Tolterodine, a new antimuscarinic agent: as effective but better tolerated than oxybutynin in patients with an overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine with that of oxybutynin in patients with an overactive bladder. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group, multinational phase-III study was conducted in urology and gynaecology clinics in the UK, Republic of Ireland and Sweden. The study enrolled 293 patients with urodynamically confirmed bladder overactivity, increased frequency of micturition (> or = micturitions/24 h) and symptoms of urgency and/or urge incontinence (> or = 1 episode/24 h). Patients received either tolterodine (2 mg twice daily) or oxybutynin (5 mg three times daily) or placebo. Doses could be reduced, to prevent withdrawal, to 1 mg or 2.5 mg, respectively. The main outcome measures were the mean change from baseline in frequency of micturition/24 h, the number of incontinent episodes/24 h and volume voided per micturition. RESULTS: After 12 weeks' treatment, the mean frequency of micturition decreased by 21% and 19.5% in those receiving tolterodine (n = 118) and oxybutynin (n = 118), respectively, and by 10.5% in those on placebo (n = 57). Among those with urge incontinence at baseline (75% of patients), the mean number of incontinent episodes decreased by 47%, 71% and 19%, respectively, in those receiving tolterodine, oxybutynin and placebo. The effect of tolterodine and oxybutynin on these two micturition variables was statistically equivalent. There was also a comparable increase in mean volume voided per micturition in the tolterodine (27%) and oxybutynin groups (31%), compared with 7% in the placebo group. Dry mouth was the most common adverse event and was reported with greater frequency and intensity among patients receiving oxybutynin than among those receiving either tolterodine or placebo. In the oxybutynin group, more patients also withdrew because of adverse events and a greater proportion required dose reduction as a result of adverse events. Despite dose reduction, the frequency of adverse events and the intensity of dry mouth remained higher among those receiving oxybutynin (2.5 mg three times daily) than in patients who remained on tolterodine 2 mg twice daily. CONCLUSION: Tolterodine 2 mg twice daily is effective and well tolerated in the treatment of bladder overactivity. Tolterodine was better tolerated than oxybutynin, particularly with respect to the frequency and intensity of dry mouth, but had comparable clinical efficacy. The superior tolerability of tolterodine therefore allows more patients to remain on effective therapy than the current most commonly prescribed agent for the treatment of the overactive bladder.

Adult↗

The ICS-'BPH' Study: uroflowmetry, lower urinary tract symptoms and bladder outlet obstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between uroflow variables and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS): to define performance statistics (sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values) for maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) with respect to bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) at various threshold values; and to investigate the diagnostic value of low-volume voids. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 1271 men aged between 45 and 88 years recruited from 12 centres in Europe, Australia, Canada, Taiwan and Japan over a 2-year period. Symptom questionnaires, voiding diaries, uroflowmetry and pressure-flow data were recorded. The relationship between uroflow variables and symptoms, Qmax and BOO, and the diagnostic performance of low volume voids were analysed. RESULTS: The relationship between symptoms and uroflow variables was poor. The mean difference between home-recorded and clinic-recorded voided volumes was -48 mL. Qmax was significantly lower in those with BOO (9.7 mL/s for void 1) than in those with no obstruction (12.6mL/s; P<0.001) and Qmax was negatively correlated with obstruction grade (Spearman's correlation coefficient -0.3, P<0.001), even when controlling for the negative correlation between age and Qmax (Spearman's partial correlation coefficient -0.29, P<0.001). A threshold value of Qmax of 10 mL/s had a specificity of 70%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 70% and a sensitivity of 47% for BOO. The specificity using a threshold Qmax of 15 mL/s was 38%, the PPV 67% and the sensitivity 82%. Those voiding <150 mL (n=225) had a 72% chance of BOO (overall prevalence of BOO 60%). In those voiding >150 mL the likelihood of BOO was 56%. The addition of a specific threshold of 10 mL/s to these higher volume voiders improved the PPV for BOO to 69%. CONCLUSION: While uroflowmetry cannot replace pressure-flow studies in the diagnosis of BOO. it can provide a valuable improvement over symptoms alone in the diagnosis of the cause of lower urinary tract dysfunction in men presenting with LUTS. This study provides performance statistics for Qmax with respect to BOO: such statistics may be used to define more accurately the presence or absence of BOO in men presenting with LUTS, so avoiding the need for formal pressure-flow studies in everyday clinical practice, while improving the likelihood of a successful outcome from prostatectomy. This study also shows that low-volume uroflowmetry can provide useful diagnostic information and that, as such, the data from such voids should not be discarded.

Aged↗

Patient selection: the value of pressure-flow urodynamics.

Considerable controversy has surrounded the evaluation of men with lower urinary tract symptoms and benign prostatic obstruction. Various objective and subjective evaluations have been used to aid better patient selection for treatment in order to improve outcome. The importance of pressure-flow urodynamics has become better appreciated in recent years, although it is plain that the urological community is still divided regarding their use.

Journal Article↗

The International Continence Society "Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia" Study: international differences in lower urinary tract symptoms and related bother.

PURPOSE: We investigated the international differences in the reporting of lower urinary tract symptoms and related bother in patients with symptoms suggestive of bladder outlet obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate international differences in the reporting of lower urinary tract symptoms and related bother in 1,271 patients from 12 countries who participated in the International Continence Society "benign prostatic hyperplasia" study. RESULTS: Country of origin was significantly associated with the prevalence of a large number of lower urinary tract symptoms (10 of 20), even after adjusting for potentially confounding variables, including physical and socio-demographic factors. Country of origin was also significantly associated with the reporting of bother but for a much smaller number of symptoms (2). CONCLUSIONS: In different countries lower urinary tract symptoms may be reported to different extents. Therefore, the results of studies in particular countries may not be generally applicable to other countries. It is likely that symptom scores will conceal this variation, necessitating consideration of individual symptoms (as in the International Continence Society "benign prostatic hyperplasia" study) or the development of country specific scoring systems. An alternative would be to focus on bother, which appeared to be much less sensitive to international differences.

Aged↗

A dose-ranging study of the efficacy and safety of tamsulosin, the first prostate-selective alpha 1A-adrenoceptor antagonist, in patients with benign prostatic obstruction (symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety in a dose-ranging study of tamsulosin (once-daily) as a modified-release formulation compared with placebo in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) associated with benign prostatic obstruction (BPO), and to establish the optimum dosage for phase III clinical studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 169 patients with LUTS associated with BPO enrolled in a 3 week placebo run-in period, 126 were subsequently randomized to receive placebo (28), or 0.2 mg (35), 0.4 mg (30), or 0.6 mg (33) of tamsulosin once daily for 4 weeks. Free-flow and pressure-flow measurements, and modified Boyarsky symptom scores were used to determine efficacy. Safety was evaluated by monitoring adverse events and vital signs (including 8 h after the first dose), and by laboratory determinations. RESULTS: Tamsulosin 0.4 mg and 0.6 mg produced significantly greater improvements in maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) (2.2 mL/s, 22.6%, and 1.8 mL/s, 20.2%, respectively) than did placebo (-0.1 mL/s, -0.9%). The results from the pressure-flow studies confirmed the results for Qmax in the free flow studies, with optimum and significant effects for tamsulosin 0.4 mg. This also applied for detrusor pressure at maximum flow, which decreased by 26.6 cmH2O (-28.2%) on 0.4 mg tamsulosin whereas it increased by 4.9 cm H2O (5.7%) on placebo. The greatest reductions in total symptom score were obtained with tamsulosin 0.4 mg and 0.6 mg (4.1, -28.7%, and 4.4 points, -28.2%, respectively) compared with reductions of 3.4 (-20.1%) in the tamsulosin (0.2 mg) and 2.9 points (-17.7%) in the placebo groups. The difference in effects on total symptom score between treatment groups was not statistically significant, which can be attributed to the small sample size. Tamsulosin was well tolerated; at least one adverse event was reported by 29%, 23%, 27% and 36% of patients in the placebo and tamsulosin 0.2 mg, 0.4 mg and 0.6 mg groups, respectively. There were no apparent tamsulosin dose-dependent changes in vital signs from baseline to the end of 4 weeks of randomized treatment. Tamsulosin caused no statistically significantly greater changes in blood pressure than placebo during the initial 8 h after the first dose. There were no clinically significant changes in laboratory variables. CONCLUSION: Tamsulosin is well tolerated and effective in improving urinary flow and relieving LUTS associated with BPO. Optimal effects are achieved with tamsulosin 0.4 mg administered once daily.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

Collagen for female genuine stress incontinence after a minimum 2-year follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the medium-term outcome of gluteraldehyde cross-linked (GAX) collagen in the treatment of genuine stress incontinence in women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised 111 women (age range 33-90 years) with genuine stress incontinence who were treated with para-urethral collagen injections between 1990 and 1995. The patients were followed prospectively and their clinical outcome documented. Pre- and post-operative urodynamic data were examined to determine any prognostic indicators. RESULTS: The overall results at a minimum 2-year follow-up (mean 3.3) showed 25% of patients to be dry and a further 40% improved. Although there were significant changes in some urodynamic values, no predictive factors of success were identified. Previous surgery for stress incontinence did not influence the final outcome. CONCLUSION: Para-urethral collagen injection is a safe and relatively simple procedure with acceptable results at the medium-term follow-up. It could be offered as a primary or secondary procedure to women with genuine stress incontinence who are unable or unwilling to undergo surgical treatment. Objective urodynamic assessment revealed no factors of prognostic significance.

Adult↗

Analysis of collagen status in premenopausal nulliparous women with genuine stress incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if differences exist in the collagen status of premenopausal nulliparous women with genuine stress incontinence compared with continent controls. DESIGN: Thirty-six premenopausal nulliparous women with urodynamically-proven genuine stress incontinence were compared with 25 controls. All the women studied had a periurethral vaginal biopsy taken of approximately 30-50 mg in wet weight. This biopsy was then analysed to determine the collagen content, the type I:III collagen ratio and the collagen cross-link content. SETTING: A tertiary referral urodynamic unit. RESULTS: The nulliparous women with genuine stress incontinence had significantly less collagen in their tissues (P < 0.0001) compared with the continent controls. In addition, there was a decreased ratio of type I to type III collagen (P = 0.0008), and the cross-link content was also significantly reduced in the women with genuine stress incontinence (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Genuine stress incontinence is present in a significant number of women before childbirth. The aetiology of their incontinence appears to be due to a defect in their connective tissue, with both a quantitative and qualitative reduction in their collagen.

Adolescent↗

International Continence Society "Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia" Study: background, aims, and methodology.

The International Continence Society Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Study (ICS-BPH) was devised in response to the perceived underutilization of urodynamics in the diagnosis of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO), together with the apparent reliance on symptoms alone when selecting patients for invasive therapies, despite evidence that lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) had poor diagnostic specificity for BPO. The ICS-BPH Study is an international multicenter study employing a wide-ranging patient-completed questionnaire, with questions on symptoms, bothersomeness, quality of life, and sexual function. In addition, each patient underwent multiple urine flow studies and standardized urodynamic investigations (phase I). Phase II was an observational assessment of outcome following a range of treatments: conservative, medical, and surgical. Phase III included data from randomized controlled trials involving a wide range of therapies. One thousand, two hundred and seventy-one patients (mean age, 66 years) were included in phase I from 12 countries: 18% of patients were unobstructed, 22% mildly obstructed, and 60% obstructed on pressure flow studies; 83% of patients performed at least two flow studies. The ICS-BPH Study will allow definitive statements to be made concerning the diagnostic potential of a wide range of LUTS, and will define the place of urine flow studies, describe patients who will need pressure flow studies prior to invasive treatment, and identify those likely to experience an adverse outcome. Although an aim of the study is to produce a diagnostic symptom score, there is considerable doubt as to whether this can be achieved where aging and a variety of lower urinary tract dysfunctions often coexist.

Aged↗