A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF THE ABRAMS-GRIFFITHS NOMOGRAM AND THE LINEAR PASSIVE URETHRAL RESISTANCE RELATION TO DETERMINE BLADDER OUTLET OBSTRUCTION

Purpose: The Abrams-Griffiths and linear passive urethral relationship (PURR) nomograms are commonly used to diagnose bladder outlet obstruc tion. To the best of our knowledge there are no clinical studies compa ring these 2 evaluations to determine if they similarly predict the fi ndings of bladder outlet obstruction. Materials and Methods: From Octo ber 1994 through December 1996 multichannel urodynamic studies were pe rformed in 72 men with lower urinary tract symptoms. The data from eac h urodynamic study were plotted on the Abrams-Griffiths and PURR nomog rams. Results: Using the Abrams-Griffiths nomogram 23 patients (46%) w ere unobstructed, 15 (21%) were equivocal for obstruction and 24 patie nts (33%) were obstructed. When the linear PURR nomogram was applied t o the pressure-flow data in each group all unobstructed cases were cat egorized into grade 0 or 1 (no obstruction), equivocal into grade 2 (m ild obstruction) and obstructed into grades 3 through 6 (moderate to s evere obstruction). Conclusions: The Abrams-Griffiths and linear PURR nomograms are helpful and comparable clinical tools to assess lower ur inary tract symptoms in men. The linear PURR nomogram not only detects the presence of bladder outlet obstruction but grades its severity, w hich may be helpful to monitor treatment.