title: Urinary disorders in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis subjects.
abstract: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) related disorders are considered to be uncommon. We hypothesize that urinary dysfunction may occur in ALS patients in the context of spasticity of pelvic floor musculature. We recorded data on 54 subjects with ALS. All subjects were evaluated with ALSFRS and M-Ashworth Scale for lower limbs. Bladder scan procedure was performed to asses post void residual (PVR) in all subjects. Forty-one percent of subjects were symptomatic for urinary disorders and 35% of subjects had a PVR > 50 ml. Linear correlation was found between PVR and ALSFRS with a R(2) 0.95 and p = 0.025; a linear correlation was also noted between PVR and lower limbs Ashworth Scale. We conclude that urinary retention is common in ALS. Urological evaluation is indicated in ALS patients with prominent spasticity.
authors.affiliation: Italian MS Society ,  AISM Rehabilitation Centre, Genova ,  Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lopes de Carvalho
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.forename: Mario Alberto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brichetto
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*