PREVALENCE OF ENURESIS AND OTHER BLADDER SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE GRAVES-DISEASE

Objective To determine the prevalence of bladder symptoms in patients with Graves' disease and assess their abnormalities on urodynamic stud ies. Patients and methods The study comprised 30 consecutive patients (13 female, 17 male, mean age 31 years, so 10) with active Graves' dis ease, Before and after attaining euthyroidism with carbimazole, their bladder symptoms were assessed using a questionnaire adapted from the American Urologic Association voiding symptom score, the serum levels of total triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), serum thyroxine (T4) and thyroid-st imulating hormone (TSH) were measured by radioimmunoassay, and uroflow metry, cystometry and perineal muscle electromyography were performed, Results Twelve of the 30 patients (40%) had the onset of bladder symp toms 1-6 months after the onset of symptoms of Graves' disease; four o f the 12 patients had enuresis. Urodynamic studies were possible in fi ve patients and showed reduced now rates in all, a significant post-vo id residual volume in four, and enlarged bladder capacity and increase d perineal muscle electromyographic activity during the voiding phase in three. Voiding disturbances and urodynamic abnormalities resolved a fter attaining euthyroidism. Conclusion Significant bladder symptoms c an occur in about 40% of patients with active Graves' disease but reso lve on euthyroidism; in some patients, urodynamic studies show signifi cant abnormalities which are also reversible.