title: Bladder-neck opening test in spinal cord injury patients using a new i.v. alpha-blocking agent, alfuzosin.
abstract: A bladder-neck opening test using alfuzosin, a new alpha-adrenoceptor blocking agent, was carried out in 21 patients with spinal cord injury. The efficacy of alfuzosin was assessed with 4 simple urodynamic parameters: micturition, residual urine, posterior urethral pressure and diameter. Both mean urethral pressure and diameter were significantly affected after the administration of 5 mg i.v. alfuzosin. The test was clinically positive in 18 patients: 11 out of 13 patients using intermittent catheterisation or continuous drainage urinated and 6 out of 8 patients already tapping had reduced residual urine volumes. A decrease in posterior urethral pressure was also observed in 2 out of 3 patients who did not respond clinically to alfuzosin. Alfuzosin was well tolerated during this test. Oral alfuzosin should therefore be investigated in patients who gave a satisfactory response to such a test.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoires d'Etudes et de Recherches Synthélabo (LERS), Départment de Recherche Clinique, Paris, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Neveux
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Régnier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Depassio
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bérard
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011799:Quinazolines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011859:Radiography; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014554:Urination / Q000187:drug effects; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014563:Urodynamics
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D011799:Quinazolines; C047638:alfuzosin