Virus-related neurological lower urinary tract dysfunction: Lessons learned during 4-year follow-up of patients with Congenital Zika Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: We have previously reported on neurogenic bladder dysfunction among Congenital Zika Vírus Syndrome (CZS) patients, but it is unknown how they will respond to treatment. OBJECTIVE: To assess whether children with neurological lower urinary tract dysfunction and CZS will respond to Standard therapies. METHODOLOGY: A prospective observational cohort study of children with CZS referred for urological assessment between 2016 and 2020 to our quaternary center in Brazil. Urological protocol included clinical history, urinalysis and culture, renal and bladder ultrasonography and urodynamic study. Patients were treated based on findings from the first evaluation, with oxybutynin chloride for overactive bladder and low bladder compliance, clean intermittent catheterization for ineffective bladder emptying, or dual therapy when both were observed. Urological outcomes were evaluated between the first and second visits considering patient's adherence. Outcomes measured included clinical, imaging, and urodynamic variables. Data was analyzed using the IBM SPSS 22 software. RESULTS: From the cohort of 90 patients, 56 completed the second urodynamic assessment and were included. One presented underactive bladder and 55 overactive bladder. Among these 55, 39 were adherent and 16 non-adherents to the prescribed treatment. Among the 39 adherents, 8 adhered regularly to oxybutynin and clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), 29 to oxybutynin alone, and two to catheterization alone. During follow-up, the number of patients with urinary tract infection and postvoid residual increased, but all other parameters had improved. Renal and bladder ultrasonography improved in 10, maximum bladder pressure decreased in 22 and maximum cystometric capacity and compliance increased in 14 patients. Sixteen patients did not adhere regularly to the prescribed treatment and although the number of patients with urinary tract infection reduced with antibiotic therapy, their bladder capacity and compliance did not improve during follow-up. DISCUSSION: Ultrasonographic and urodynamic improvements were observed after 10.8 ± 7.5 months of treatment, including one patient with ureterohydronephrosis that resolved. Adherence to CIC remains a challenge and reflected in the number of patients presenting urinary tract infection and postvoid residual. The immediate clinical relevance is the major study strength, given the previously uncharacterized therapy options for this patient population. The number of patients remains one of the study limitations, reducing our ability to perform more advanced statistical analyses. CONCLUSION: Patients with Zika-related neurological lower urinary tract dysfunction may benefit from conventional therapies. Results confirmed ultrasonographic and urodynamic improvements after treatment, although not statically significant. Adherence to treatment, specifically to CIC, remains a challenge.

Early treatment improves urodynamic prognosis in neurogenic voiding dysfunction: 20 years of experience / Tratamento precoce melhora o prognóstico urodinâmico na disfunção miccional de origem neurogênica: 20 anos de experiência

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the association between early treatment and urodynamic improvement in pediatric and adolescent patients with neurogenic bladder. Methodology: Retrospective longitudinal and observational study (between 1990 and 2013) including patients with neurogenic bladder and myelomeningocele treated based on urodynamic results. The authors evaluated the urodynamic follow-up (bladder compliance and maximum bladder capacity and pressure) considering the first urodynamic improvement in two years as the outcome variable and early referral as the exposure variable, using a descriptive and multivariate analysis with logistic regression model. Results: Among 230 patients included, 52% had an early referral. The majority were diagnosed as overactive bladder with high bladder pressure (≥40 cm H2O) and low bladder compliance (3 mL/cmH2O) and were treated with oxybutynin and intermittent catheterization. Urodynamic follow-up results showed 68% of improvement at the second urodynamic examination decreasing bladder pressure and increasing bladder capacity and compliance. The percentage of incontinence and urinary tract infections decreased over treatment. Early referral (one-year old or less) increased by 3.5 the probability of urodynamic improvement in two years (95% CI: 1.81-6.77). Conclusion: Treatment onset within the first year of life improves urodynamic prognosis in patients with neurogenic bladder and triplicates the probability of urodynamic improvement in two years. The role of neonatologists and pediatricians in early referral is extremely important.

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a associação entre tratamento precoce e melhoria urodinâmica em pacientes pediátricos e adolescentes portadores de bexiga neurogênica. Metodologia: Estudo observacional longitudinal retrospectivo (entre 1990-2013) em pacientes com bexiga neurogênica e mielomeningocele tratados com base no diagnóstico urodinâmico. Avaliamos a evolução urodinâmica (complacência, capacidade e pressão vesical) e consideramos primeira melhoria urodinâmica em até dois anos como variável desfecho e encaminhamento precoce (primeira urodinâmica até um ano de vida) como exposição. Foi feita análise descritiva e multivariada com modelo de regressão logística. Resultados: Entre 230 pacientes incluídos 52% foram encaminhados precocemente. A maioria tinha bexiga hiperativa com pressão maior do que 40 cmH2O, complacência abaixo de 3 ml/cmH2O e foi tratada com oxibutinina e cateterismo intermitente. Na evolução urodinâmica, 68% apresentou melhoria já no segundo exame com redução da pressão e aumento da capacidade e da complacência vesical. O percentual de incontinência e infecção urinária diminuiu ao longo do tratamento. O encaminhamento precoce aumentou 3,5 vezes a probabilidade de melhoria urodinâmica até dois anos em relação aos encaminhados após o primeiro ano de idade (CI95% 1,81-6,77). Conclusão: Tratar no primeiro ano de vida melhora o prognóstico urodinâmico de pacientes com bexiga neurogênica, triplica a probabilidade de melhoria urodinâmica em até dois anos. A atuação do neonatologista e do pediatra, ao reconhecer e encaminhar o paciente precocemente para o diagnóstico, é extremamente importante.

Early treatment improves urodynamic prognosis in neurogenic voiding dysfunction: 20 years of experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between early treatment and urodynamic improvement in pediatric and adolescent patients with neurogenic bladder. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective longitudinal and observational study (between 1990 and 2013) including patients with neurogenic bladder and myelomeningocele treated based on urodynamic results. The authors evaluated the urodynamic follow-up (bladder compliance and maximum bladder capacity and pressure) considering the first urodynamic improvement in two years as the outcome variable and early referral as the exposure variable, using a descriptive and multivariate analysis with logistic regression model. RESULTS: Among 230 patients included, 52% had an early referral. The majority were diagnosed as overactive bladder with high bladder pressure (≥40cm H2O) and low bladder compliance (3mL/cmH2O) and were treated with oxybutynin and intermittent catheterization. Urodynamic follow-up results showed 68% of improvement at the second urodynamic examination decreasing bladder pressure and increasing bladder capacity and compliance. The percentage of incontinence and urinary tract infections decreased over treatment. Early referral (one-year old or less) increased by 3.5 the probability of urodynamic improvement in two years (95% CI: 1.81-6.77). CONCLUSION: Treatment onset within the first year of life improves urodynamic prognosis in patients with neurogenic bladder and triplicates the probability of urodynamic improvement in two years. The role of neonatologists and pediatricians in early referral is extremely important.