beta(2)-adrenergic agonists and pelvic floor exercises for female stress incontinence

Objective: We compared beta (2)-adrenergic agonist therapy with clenbuterol (DT) and physiological therapy (PT) in a randomized study to establish the first line therapy for stress incontinence (SI). Method: The clinical effi cacy of DT (group A), PT (group B), and a combination of DT and PT (group C ) was investigated in 61 patients with SI by means of a la-week randomized controlled study, The frequency and volume of SI and the patients' own impr essions were used as the basis for the assessment of efficacy. Results: The SI improvement rates in groups A, B, and C were 76.9, 52.6, and 89.5%, res pectively (P = 0.0361). A significant therapeutic effect on the frequency o f SI was observed in group B and group C at 2 weeks after the start of trea tment (both P < 0.05), and in all groups at 6 weeks (all P < 0.01). The eff icacy rates based on the patients' own impressions in groups A, B, and C we re 84.6, 31.6, and 68.4%, respectively (P = 0.0064). Conclusion: The beta ( 2)-adrenergic agonist appeared to be clinically useful as a drug of choice for SI. (C) 2000 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. All rights reserved.