DIABETIC CYSTOPATHY PRESENTING AS PRIMARY ACUTE URINARY RETENTION IN A PREVIOUSLY UNDIAGNOSED YOUNG MALE DIABETIC PATIENT

Lower genito-urinary problems are part of the polyneuropathy of diabet es. Cystopathy affects 40%-85% of diabetic patients, although less tha n half are symptomatic. We report on a 42-year-old patient who was not known to be diabetic, and who presented to the urologists with primar y acute urinary retention. His underlaying disease was detected by a t est for random blood glucose. More common causes were excluded with ca reful clinical and radiological examinations. He was managed with insu lin and self-catheterization. Diabetes should be considered as a diffe rential diagnosis in relatively young men who present with unexplained acute urinary retention. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.