title: Lower urinary tract symptoms and urinary flow rates in female patients with hyperthyroidism.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and voiding function in a cohort of hyperthyroid women. The autonomic nervous system (ANS) imbalance has been thought to cause LUTS in hyperthyroidism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2008 and December 2008, 65 newly diagnosed, untreated female hyperthyroid patients were enrolled in this study. Another 62 age-matched healthy women were enrolled as a control group. Demographics, LUTS, urinary flow rates, hyperthyroid symptoms, and serum levels of thyroid hormones were recorded before and after the medical treatment for hyperthyroidism.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, the hyperthyroid patients had a higher mean symptom score of frequency (1.15 ± 1.75 vs 0.31 ± 1.05, P = .01), incomplete emptying (0.91 ± 1.47 vs 0.29 ± 1.12, P = .02), straining (1.05 ± 0.85 vs 0.27 ± 0.51, P <.01), voiding symptoms (3.05 ± 3.28 vs 1.06 ± 2.63, P <.01), and total symptoms (5.88 ± 6.17 vs 2.76 ± 4.65, P <.01). Fifty-three (81.5%) of them had an IPSS of <8, while only 12 (18.5%) had an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of ≥8. Hyperthyroid women demonstrated a lower mean peak flow rate (25.0 ± 5.3 vs 28.6 ± 6.1 mL/s, P = .02). After treatment, both LUTS and flow rates improved significantly. The severity of LUTS was associated with neither serum levels of thyroid hormone nor other hyperthyroid symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hyperthyroid women have worse LUTS and lower peak flow rates than healthy controls. However, the severity of LUTS is only mild (IPSS <8) in the majority, and only 18.5% have moderate-to-severe LUTS. Both LUTS and flow rates improve after the treatment for hyperthyroidism. The exact mechanisms of LUTS and/or lower urinary tract dysfunction in hyperthyroidism require further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chen-Hsun
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Tien-Chun
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ya-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Shyh-Chyan
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hong-Jeng
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Kuo-How
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014554:Urination; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*