beta(2)-adrenergic agonists and pelvic floor exercises for female stress incontinence.
OBJECTIVE
We compared beta(2)-adrenergic agonist therapy with clenbuterol (DT) and physiological therapy (PT) in a randomized study to establish the first line therapy for stress incontinence (SI).


METHODS
The clinical efficacy of DT (group A), PT (group B), and a combination of DT and PT (group C) was investigated in 61 patients with SI by means of a 12-week randomized controlled study. The frequency and volume of SI and the patients' own impressions were used as the basis for the assessment of efficacy.


RESULTS
The SI improvement rates in groups A, B, and C were 76.9, 52.6, and 89. 5%, respectively (P=0.0361). A significant therapeutic effect on the frequency of SI was observed in group B and group C at 2 weeks after the start of treatment (both P<0.05), and in all groups at 6 weeks (all P<0.01). The efficacy rates based on the patients' own impressions in groups A, B, and C were 84.6, 31.6, and 68.4%, respectively (P=0.0064).


CONCLUSIONS
The beta(2)-adrenergic agonist appeared to be clinically useful as a drug of choice for SI.
Ishiko
O
O
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan. ishikoo@msic.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Ushiroyama
T
T
Saji
F
F
Mitsuhashi
Y
Y
Tamura
T
T
Yamamoto
K
K
Kawamura
Y
Y
Ogita
S
S
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002976:Clenbuterol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D002976:Clenbuterol