title: Analysis of the upper urinary tract function in multiple sclerosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to analyse the upper urinary tract (UT) function in a group of consecutive multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, who had not previously been treated by urologist.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two MS patients suffering from lower UT dysfunction were included in the study. The group of patients consisted of 69 women and 23 men. The average Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score in our group was 4.29 (0-8.5). Functional examination of the kidneys using assessment of creatinine clearance and morphological examination of the kidneys using ultrasound was performed in all patients. Analysis of the upper UT function is presented.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average serum creatinine clearance in our group was 132.84 ml/min/1.73 m(2) (46.8-510). Lower levels than normal were found in three patients (3.3%). Abnormal ultrasound findings were recorded in five patients (5.4%). The creatinine clearance was correlated with the clinical subtype of MS, the severity expressed by EDSS, the urodynamic parameters, the duration of the disease, the duration of the symptoms of lower UT and the EDSS score. We did not find a statistically significant correlation for any of these parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that impairment of the upper UT function is exceptional in MS patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University Hospital of Ostrava, Ostrava-Poruba, Czech Republic. jan.krhut@fnspo.cz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Krhut
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hradílek
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Zapletalová
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003404:Creatinine / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014563:Urodynamics; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D003404:Creatinine