Conservative bladder management in advanced multiple sclerosis.

Anticholinergics and intermittent catheterization are the cornerstones of bladder management in early multiple sclerosis (MS). In advanced MS however, bladder management is based more on tradition than on evidence. Nurses seem to deal with catheter problems and chronic incontinence. Despite the abundant use of indwelling catheters, there is a lack for guidelines on catheter-induced problems. The psychosexual and social impact of bladder problems in advanced MS is often neglected. The international multidisciplinary special interest group on sexual, urological and bowel dysfunction in MS (SUBDIMS) as a special interest group of the Rehabilitation in Multiple Sclerosis (RIMS) was confronted with a high variability in practice and a lack of guidelines. A literature review was prepared during three multidisciplinary expert meetings. This review will be the basis of further initiatives to improve the urological treatment of patients with advanced MS.

[The medical treatment of overactive bladder]. / Le traitement médical de l'hyperactivité vésicale.

Overactive bladder, very frequent in neurological disorders, leads to very distressing symptoms such as urgency, frequency and incontinence which may dramatically impair the patient's quality of life. The medical approach is essentially pharmacological but the management of the nociceptive factors must not be neglected. In the mild urinary dysfunctions, bladder training can be advised. The pharmacological treatment aims at reducing the parasympathetic activity or at deafferenting the bladder. The antimuscarinic agents are an essential part of the treatment. Oxybutynin is the most widely used medication but recent agents like tolterodin have a better tolerability. Other drugs can also be used such as desmopressin, flavoxate. New molecules are under experiment (darifenacin). In case of troublesome side-effects or resistance to oral medications, local treatments are considered. Intravesical oxybutynin has been tried but has a short-lived efficacy. Intravesical instillation of capsaicine or resiniferatoxin blocks C-fibres afferents and leads to clinical and urodynamic improvement. Recently, injections of botulinum-A toxin in the detrusor have been advocated aiming at blocking the transmission of parasympathetic impulse. The first studies report encouraging results. All these local treatments resulting in bladder paresis are recommended for patients performing self-catheterization. Should these treatments fail, other therapeutic approaches are considered such as intrathecal treatment, neuromodulation, before deciding on neurosurgical or urosurgical procedures.

[Quality of life and multiple sclerosis: validation of the french version of the self-questionnaire (SEP-59)]. / Qualité de vie et sclérose en plaques: validation de la version francophone d'un auto-questionnaire, le SEP-59.

We conducted a prospective study among 166 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients (103 from an university hospital, 63 from a MS rehabilitation center) to assess the properties of the French version of the Multiple Sclerosis Quality Of Life - 54 items (MS QOL-54) which combines the MOS SF36 together with MS specific items. The SF-36 had been translated into French through the IQOLA project. We translated and adapted the MS specific items with the help of three different teams. The translation into French has an addition of five items, because we kept the MS specific items of an earlier unpublished form. Acceptability is excellent with a response rate over 90p.100. Test-retest reliability is good except for the "role limitation-emotional" scale of the SF-36. Construct validity, based on factor analysis, shows no change in the SF-36 internal consistency and the specific items provided their own information. External validity, tested against both medical (Expanded Disability Status Scale, Kurtzke scale, Mini-Mental-State and disease stage) and rehabilitation (Functional Independence Measure) parameters is excellent. The French MS QOL questionnaire contains 59 items including both the SF-36 and the MS QOL-54 items. This will permit international comparisons of MS patients' care and therapy.

A questionnaire assessment of unmet needs for rehabilitation services and resources for people with multiple sclerosis: results of a pilot survey in five European countries. Needs Task group of MARCH (Multiple Sclerosis and Rehabilitation, Care and Health Services Research in Europe).

OBJECTIVE: To develop an international services and needs assessment instrument (SUN) for people with multiple sclerosis and their carers and to pilot this in different countries of the European Community. DESIGN: Interview study of people with multiple sclerosis, their carers and nominated key professionals examining the unmet needs of patients and carers. SETTING: Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Italy and the United Kingdom. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Needs assessment questionnaire. RESULTS: The study comprised 137 people with multiple sclerosis, 125 carers and 111 professionals. Patients reported on average 2.9 unmet needs for themselves; their carers and professionals reported on average 2.4. Needs were categorized into seven broad categories. Due to difficulties experienced by the local researchers in distinguishing between needs and objectives a large proportion of needs had to be assigned to the 'other' category. CONCLUSIONS: The SUN is a valuable and practicable tool for the identification of unmet needs for people with multiple sclerosis and their carers. Formal validation and reliability testing of the different language versions is recommended.

[Social and economic impact of multiple sclerosis]. / Impact social et économique de la sclérose en plaques.

The evolution of multiple sclerosis is unforeseeable; it can induce disability and fatigue; thus, it has a socio-economical impact. Married and family life, relationships and work are the most affected areas. Financial problems can also occur. Counselling and aid services must be provided. All these social impacts induce an indirect cost which is the major component of the total cost of multiple sclerosis. Data show that there are great differences between countries and that the cost increases when there is a disability. The economic impact of the "new" drugs is unknown and must be assessed.

Regression of vasomotor disorders under intrathecal baclofen in a case of spastic paraplegia.

Continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion via a subcutaneously implanted programmable pump has been used in the treatment of severe spasticity. Improvement classically concerns the neurological (hypertonia, spasms, hyperreflexia), urological (bladder function) and other clinically relevant outcomes, such as functional status of daily living. This short note reports on another effect of intrathecal baclofen on vasomotor disorders and cyanosis in the lower limbs, described in a patient with spastic paraplegia.

[Transient dysfibrinogenemia and thrombocytopenia associated with recurrent acute pancreatitis in the course of isotretinoin therapy]. / Dysfibrinogénémie et thrombocytopénie transitoires associées à une pancréatite aiguë récidivante lors d'un traitement par l'siotrétinoïne.

A 17 year-old young man developed two episodes of acute pancreatitis, separated by a 2 year interval and associated with isotretinoin therapy. In 1989, vesicular sludge without lithiasis was evidenced and in 1991, gall bladder stones were found by cholecystectomy. Concomitantly, transient dysfibrinogenemia and thrombopenia were present. It is interesting to note that far away from the use of isotretinoin, the patient suffered from another episode of acute pancreatitis without any coagulation disorder. The involvement of Roaccutane in cellular differentiation is discussed as well as its causal association with acquired dysfibrinogenemia and transient thrombocytopenia.

[A single-day survey in pharmacies on the consumption of analgesics and antipyretics]. / Enquête d'un jour en officine sur la consommation d'antalgiques et d'antipyrétiques.

A one day long survey of antalgics and antipyretics consumption was carried out in 6 pharmacies of a middle-size city. It first shows the majority of medical prescription (62.2%) over self medication (29.4%) and over pharmaceutic advice (8.4%) at the drug delivery. Women are the main consumers, especially in the youngest ones (20-40 years old). Paracetamol is the most used drug; in this indication, the search for the less expensive drug seems usual. Drug abuse cannot be demonstrated in this survey; the consumption of this category of drugs appears as important although for a short duration; and most of the time for pain considered as moderate and trivial. The possibility to carry out such surveys and possibly clinical trials in private pharmacies appears as an opportunity.

[Neurotoxicity of acyclovir in peritoneal dialysis apropos of 1 case]. / Neurotoxicité de l'aciclovir chez le dialysé péritonéal à propos d'un cas.

We report a case of reversible myoclonic encephalopathy which appeared after intravenous acyclovir treatment in a patient in CAPD for which pharmacological dosages have been made in serum, peritoneal dialysate and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Encephalopathy appeared after two intravenous doses of 7.33 mg/kg (doses higher than recommended), administered on admission and 16 hours later. Pharmacological dosages indicated that acyclovir peritoneal clearance was negligible, and that acyclovir persisted a long time in plasma and CSF. Neurological symptoms persisted although serum concentrations returned to normal value. The diagnostic value of pharmacological dosages in serum and CSF is discussed. In addition, neurological symptoms disappeared following two consecutive hemodialysis procedures. Hence we suggest that hemodialysis could be used for drug removal in case of acyclovir overdose in CAPD patients.

[Anxiolytic agents and hypnotic drugs in Bretagne. Pharmaco-epidemiological study]. / Les anxiolytiques et les hypnotiques en Bretagne. Etude pharmaco-épidémiologique.

A pharmacoepidemiological survey was carried out in a rural region of France (Brittany) with the help of 54 general practitioners, all of whom belong to a clinical research group. The aim of the survey was 3-fold: to determine the frequency (incidence and prevalence) of anxiolytic and hypnotic drug prescriptions, the sociological characteristics of these drug consumers, and the indications and reasons for prescribing this class of drugs. The population of hypnotic drug and sedative consumers was strikingly dominated by women, 60 years old and over, retired or without a profession. Prescription analysis revealed that these drugs were essentially benzodiazepines whose prevalence and incidence were 17 and 1.76%, respectively. A high frequency of prescription renewals (78%) and an elevated percentage of long-term treatments (more than 9 years) were also noted. Insomnia and dependence are the two main "risk factors" for drug treatments lasting more than one year.

[New aspects of drug hepatotoxicity]. / Nouveautés en hépatotoxicité médicamenteuse.

This article sets out to report the new hepatotoxic drugs identified during the course of 1989 and to describe the state of the art about drugs suspected of hepatotoxicity, such as amoxicillin-a clavulinic or, to a lesser extent, octreotide. In contrast, Exifone, a recently introduced drug, was withdrawn from the market within a year. One is surprised to find drugs such as Buprenorphine and Trimebutine listed, which have never induced clinical cases of hepatitis despite widespread use. The article also reviews the drugs with recognized hepatotoxicity and tries to present the most up-to-date information about them.

[The Minimal Record of Disability and multiple sclerosis. Results of the evaluation of 200 patients]. / Echelle Minimale d'Invalidité et sclérose en plaques. Résultats de l'évaluation de 200 patients.

The Minimal Record of Disability (MRD) for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) evaluates impairment in MS through 4 sets of data: Demographic Data, Kurtzke Disability Status Scale (DSS), Incapacity Status Scale (ISS) and Environmental Status Scale (ESS). We assessed with the 1985 version of MRD 200 consecutive patients attending our MS clinic during a 6 months period. 170 were out-patients and 30 inpatients. Diagnosis was definite in 197 and probable in 3. ESS and ISS were rated by a medical student according to a planned interview. The validity and internal consistency of DSS, ISS and ESS were evaluated by dependence analysis of each item to the sum of all items, and multivariate analysis was carried out on the first 15 items of ISS. Main clinical data were: age 43.0 +/- 11.8 years; age at onset of MS: 27.3 +/- 10.3; sex ratio (F/M): 1.75/1; mean DSS score: 4.6 +/- 0.1. Administration of MRD was easy and general acceptance was good. Some refinement in wording is needed for 5 items of ISS--mainly for "mood and thought disturbances" and "mentation" which do not score adequate mood and intellectual impairment in MS--and for 2 items of ESS. These 2 scales are otherwise of practical use and cover all the area of disability and handicap in MS. The levels of internal consistency of DSS, ISS and ESS are high, as well as correlations between the 3 scales (p less than 0.001). Correlations with age and duration of MS were established for total scores of DSS but not ISS and ESS. Our data confirms the validity of MRD as an evaluation tool of MS patients; they show that MRD can be applied with minor modifications to MS patients and support its use in therapeutic trials, rehabilitation and socio-economic inquiries.