Urethral sensitivity in the aetiology of sensory urgency.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate urethral hypersensitivity as a cause of sensory urgency.


METHODS
Twenty women with sensory urgency and 10 normal controls were enrolled in the study. A urethral conductance catheter was designed comprising three pairs of electrodes. These were accurately located in the urethra using the principle of urethral electrical conductance. The urethral sensory threshold was then measured at three sites along the urethral by applying a stimulatory current across each pair of electrodes in turn.


RESULTS
The women with sensory urgency had significantly higher thresholds for urethral stimulation along the whole urethra when compared with the control group.


CONCLUSIONS
Urethral hypersensitivity was not found to be a feature of sensory urgency and in fact the converse was demonstrated. This has not been described before. High sensory thresholds may occur with small fibre peripheral neuropathies. Thus, peripheral neuropathy is potentially a factor in the, as yet unknown, aetiology of sensory urgency.
Creighton
S M
SM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St Georges Hospital, London, UK.
Plevnik
S
S
Stanton
S L
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure; D012677:Sensation; D012684:Sensory Thresholds; D014521:Urethra / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014554:Urination / Q000502:physiology; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics