Efficacy of terazosin for overactive bladder symptoms and sexual function in patients with overactive bladder and symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: a prospective multicenter trial

OBJECTIVE: This study is to evaluate the efficacy of terazosin in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms and sexual dysfunction in patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and OAB. METHODS: Of 200 men aged 50-80 years with symptomatic BPH, an International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) > or =8 accompanied by OAB symptoms, 185 patients completed treatment with terazosin 2-5 mg once daily for 8 weeks. Patients were asked to complete a voiding diary, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire, and the IPSS at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks. RESULTS: 8-week terazosin treatment improved OAB symptoms as well as reducing IPSS (19.8 to 12.7) and IIEF (34.4 to 37.4) scores. OAB symptoms improved significantly, irrespective of symptom severity by the IPSS, but the IIEF score only increased in patients with severe symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Additional studies are needed to further evaluate the placebo effect. However, terazosin monotherapy is effective in patients with symptomatic BPH and OAB, and may increase sexual function in patients with severely symptomatic BPH.

Predictive Factors Affecting Long-term Cure and Patient Satisfaction of the Tension-free Vaginal Tape Procedure for the Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence

PURPOSE: We evaluated predictive risk factors affecting the long-term efficacy of the tension-free vaginal tape(TVT) procedure for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence(SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 138(mean age 52.4+/-9.3) women who underwent the TVT procedure and followed up for at least 5 years. We analyzed parameters including patient characteristics, history, physical examination, 1-hour pad test, and urodynamic studies using univariate and multivariate analyses with respect to the cure rates. The patients were regarded as cured in the absence of any episodes of involuntary urine leakage during stressful activities and stress cough test. RESULTS: The overall 5-year cure rate was 76.8%, with an 86.9% patient satisfaction rate. On univariate and multivariate analyses, there were no significant parameters affecting the cure rate. The urgency negatively impacted patients' satisfaction(p=0.017, OR=4.114). According to the subgroup analyses, cure rates were lower in patients with high body mass index(BMI=25 kg/m(2), 68.3% vs 83.3%, p=0.044), lower Valsalva leak point pressure(VLPP<60 cmH2O, 51.6% vs 82.8%, p=0.003), and high-grade incontinence(40.0% vs. 69.7%, 86.6%, p=0.012). CONCLUSION: the TVT procedure is an effective and safe surgery for SUI without any independent predictive factors affecting long-term cure execept urgency affecting satisfaction. However, higher BMI, low VLPP and high- grade incontinence may impair the efficacy of the TVT procedure.

A Prospective Trial Comparing Tension-Free Vaginal Tape and Transobturator Vaginal Tape Inside-Out for the Surgical Treatment of Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: One-Year Follow up

PURPOSE: To compare prospectively and randomly tension-free vaginal tape(TVT) with transobturator vaginal tape inside-out(TVT-O) for the surgical treatment of female stress urinary incontinence(SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty women with SUI were alternately assigned to either the TVT group(n=60) or TVT-O group(n=60). The preoperative evaluation included urodynamic study and a Korean version of the incontinence quality of life questionnaire(I-QoL). At 1-year after operation, surgical outcome, patient I-QoL parameters, long-term complications and uroflowmetry were evaluated in 2 groups. RESULTS: Preoperative patient characteristics including I-QoL and urodynamic study were comparable in the two groups. The rates of cure(86.8% for TVT vs. 86.8% for TVT-O), improvement(6.6% for TVT vs. 8.2% for TVT-O), and failure (6.6% for TVT vs. 5.0% for TVT-O) were similar for the two groups. The I-QoL parameters one year after surgery were improved significantly in both groups(p0.05). The rates of the patient satisfaction with the procedure were 93.4% in the TVT group versus 95.0% in the TVT-O group(p>0.05). Mean operation time(11.5+/-1.4 min versus 15.2+/-1.8 min, p<0.05) was significantly shorter in the TVT-O than TVT. There were no long-term complications, such as vaginal erosion and prolonged voiding difficulty, in either group. CONCLUSION: TVT-O appears to be equally effective as TVT for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women at a 1-year follow-up.

Changes in Overactive Bladder Symptoms after Discontinuation of a Successful Treatment with Antimuscarinic Agent: A Prospective Trial / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: To prospectively investigated the symptom changes in women with an overactive bladder (OAB) after discontinuation of 3 months of successful treatment with antimuscarinics and the pre-treatment factors that contributed to retreatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-eight women (mean age 51.4 years) with improvement in the symptoms of OAB after 4 weeks of treatment with propiverine hydrochloride (20mg/day) were prospectively enrolled in a protocol consisting of 8 further weeks of medication and a 4-week period of discontinuation. The frequency-volume charts were assessed before treatment, after the 12 weeks of therapy, and 4 weeks the end of the therapy. Changes in the frequencies, nocturia, urgency scores and urge incontinence at 12 and 16 weeks were evaluated. RESULTS: All of the OAB symptoms 4 weeks after discontinuation of medication remained improved compared to those initially recorded, but then deteriorated during further medication. At the baseline, and 12 and 16 weeks, the mean frequencies, nocturia and urgency scores per day were 11.2, 7.3 and 8.3, 1.6, 0.4 and 0.8, and 1.7, 0.6 and 1.2, respectively. The retreatment rate was 35.3%. Patients in the retreatment group were older (58.8 vs. 47.3 years, p<0.001) and had higher initial urgency scores (1.9 vs. 1.6, p=0.034). In an urodynamic study of 23 patients, those without detrusor overactivity (DO) maintained a significantly improved frequency after cessation of mediation, whereas those with DO (60.9%) did not. The retreatment rate was higher in patients with DO, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Three months of antimuscarinic therapy for OAB may not be sufficient. Older patients, or those with severe urgency, may be more likely to return to treatment.

Urologic Malignancy Detected by Routine Check-up at a Health Promotion Center / 대한비뇨기과학회지

PURPOSE: The efficiency of the initial screening methods for the detection of urologic malignancies was evaluated with regard to each cancer detection rate. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the 117,023 people (Male:Female=1.5:1) who received general health examinations between 2000 and 2003, 4,000 (3.42%) were referred to the department of urology. It was recommended that the referred patients receive the following additional tests: intravenous pyelography (IVP) and cystourethroscopy for microscopic hematuria, a prostate biopsy after digital rectal examination to elevate prostate-specific antigen (PSA) above 4ng/ml and dynamic computerized tomography of the kidney for any abnormality on the ultrasonography. RESULTS: A microscopic hematuria was detected in 2,253 people (1.93%), PSA evaluated in 620 (0.89%) and an abnormality of the kidney on ultrasonography in 1,127 (0.96%). One diagnosis was of a bladder tumor, which turned out to be a pTaG2. Twenty seven were found to have prostate cancer, which was organ confined in 13, locally advanced in 7 and systemically advanced in 3. Four men refused further evaluation or management. A renal cell carcinoma (stages pT1a-bN0M0G1-3) was diagnosed in the 10 people having undergone partial or radical nephrectomies and 2 having undergone a nephroureterectomy were diagnosed with a transitional cell carcinoma (stages pT1 and 3bN0M0G3) of the renal pelvis. CONCLUSIONS: In the screening of kidney and bladder cancers, the detection rates and cancer stages attributed to ultrasonography and microscopic hematuria are lower. However, the rates of prostate cancer detected by PSA, and their stage, both seem to be higher. It is our belief that greater information and an earlier PSA test will allow the detection of prostate cancer at a lower stage.

Risk Factors Predicting Voiding Difficulty Following Tension-Free Vaginal Tape Procedure

PURPOSE: Among complications after the tension-free vaginal tape(TVT) procedure for female stress urinary incontinence, the voiding dysfunction is one of the most common complaints of the patients. The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of objective voiding dysfunction and evaluate the clinical, uroflometric and urodynamic risk factors predisposing to voiding dysfunction following the TVT procedure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 437 women with stress urinary incontinence underwent the TVT procedure in our institution for recent three years. Among them, 285 patients with post-operative uroflowmetry were evaluated. Objective voiding dysfunction was defined as a peak-flow rate less than 12 ml/sec(voided volume greater than 100 ml), or inability to void at least 75% of bladder capacity, on two or more readings. Clinical and urodynamic parameters and global satisfaction were analyzed and compared between patients(objective voiding dysfunction, n=33, 11.6%) who had uroflowmetric parameters of voiding difficulties after TVT procedure and patients(well- voiding, n=252, 88.4%) who had not. RESULTS: Two hundred sixty-one patients (91.6%) answered satisfied by global satisfaction questionnaire. Subjective and objective cure rates were 93.9% and 90.9% at least 6 months follow-up. Among parameters, patient's age, peak-flow rate, and 1 hour pad test showed significant differences between voiding dysfunction group and well-voiding group(average age: 54.9 vs 50.9 years-old, p=0.024, peak urinary flow rate: 30.9 vs 24.1 ml/sec, p=0.003, 1 hour pad test: 53.8 vs 81.6 gm, p=0.035). There was no statistically significant difference in subjective and objective cure rates and satisfaction rates between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Women with the old age, low peak urinary flow rate, and large volume with 1 hour pad test are most likely to have voiding dysfunction after TVT procedure. Patients with these risk factors should be given more counsel regarding post-operative voiding dysfunction before the surgery.