Association of urodynamic findings in new onset multiple sclerosis with subsequent occurrence of urinary symptoms and acute episode of disease in females

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to determine the relative frequency of abnormal urodynamic findings in new multiple sclerosis (MS) cases without micturition complaints and to find its correlation with the number of MS plaques on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), urinary tract involvement and the number of disease episodes. METHODS: In this prospective study, 50 new female case of multiple sclerosis were enrolled. Age, urodynamic findings, micturition complaints and number of plaques on MRI were recorded on admission. Occurrence of urinary symptoms and number of episodes of the disease were recorded every three months during one-year follow-up. RESULTS: The mean patients’ age was 32.4 ± 7.2 years and all patients were female. Of the 50 patients, 19 (38%) had a normal urodynamic test and 31 (62%) had abnormal urodynamic findings at the beginning of the study. The occurrence of micturition complaints during follow-up in patients with abnormal urodynamic findings (94%) was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than patients with normal urodynamic findings (37%). In addition, the number of plaques on MRI at the beginning of the study in patients with abnormal urodynamic finding was significantly higher (p < 0.004) compared to patients with a normal urodynamic study. The number of episodes during follow-up was not statistically different between patients with normal and abnormal urodynamic findings (p = 0.46). CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, 62% of all new MS patients had an abnormal urodynamic test. This is a considerable proportion of patients and it seems urodynamic studies can be used when MS is first diagnosed.