title: The immediate and 6-mo reproducibility of pressure-flow studies in men with benign prostatic enlargement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Urodynamics is an objective method of diagnosing bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in men. This study examined the immediate and 6-mo reproducibility of this investigation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urodynamics was performed in men as part of a multinational, multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled drug trial. Each patient had two fill/void cycles both at baseline and 6 mo. The BOO index (BOOI) and bladder contractility index (BCI) were calculated for each cycle and data analysed to look for changes in immediate and 6-mo reproducibility between the two fill/void cycles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 114 patients had urodynamics at baseline. In the immediate term, although there was a small but statistical fall in both the BOOI and BCI, with cycle one figures greater than those in cycle two, 81% and 79% of patients remained in the same BOOI and BCI category, respectively. At 6 mo, the differences were not statistically different with 70% of patients remaining unchanged in their BOOI category in cycle one and 71% in cycle two; 65% remained unchanged in their BCI category in cycle one and 74% in cycle two. No patient with a BOOI > 65 changed category in the second investigation, and only 5 of 103 first cycles with a BOOI > or = 50 changed category to equivocal obstruction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urodynamics has good reproducibility when looking at the BOOI and BCI, indicating that a second study is not necessary in most patients and one investigation is sufficient for an accurate diagnosis on which treatment options can be based.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Urological Institute, Bristol, United Kingdom. hashim@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Hashim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashim
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Elhilali
authors.forename: Truls Erik
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Bjerklund Johansen
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Abrams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004231:Diuresis / Q000502:physiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010919:Placebos; D011312:Pressure; D011470:Prostatic Hyperplasia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos