title: Is a sequence of tests during urethral pressure profilometry correlated with symptoms assessment in women?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our purpose was, applying a strictly defined protocol for urethral profilometry, 1) to test the repeatability of same session rest maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) and 2) to search for correlation between women complaint and the changes in MUCP value (rest and dynamic tests).
  
  
  METHODS
  A population of 140 consecutive women referred for evaluation of lower urinary tract dysfunction was stratified in 4 groups according with the urinary symptoms: stress, urge, mixed incontinence and continent and in each group in 3 age groups (young, middle age and old). The sequence of tests recorded in supine position was: urethral pressure profile at rest bladder empty, after bladder filling at 250 mL (reference test), stress profile, fatigability (before (rest) and after 10 successive strong coughs), then in standing position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all groups, there was no significant difference between the two MUCP values at rest bladder filled. In the three incontinent groups, MUCP was higher bladder empty than bladder filled (p < 0.05) except in the young sub-group. Stress incontinence led to significant decrease of MUCP during dynamic tests in the young group. MUCP was not modified after fatigability test in women with urge complaint whatever age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When recorded following a strictly defined protocol, MUCP at rest bladder filled has a good repeatability in individual. However a complex sequence of tests during urethral pressure profilometry remains discussed in middle-age and old age-groups, it allows specifying the stress component of incontinence in young women and the urgency component in all age-groups.
authors.affiliation: Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 06) and Service de Médecine Physique et Rééducation (Neurologie), Hôpital Rothschild, 5 rue Santerre, Paris, France. francoise.valentini@rth.aphp.fr
authors.forename: Françoise A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Valentini
authors.forename: Gilberte
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Robain
authors.forename: Brigitte G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Marti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003950:Diagnostic Techniques, Urological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011312:Pressure; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014521:Urethra / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014563:Urodynamics; D055815:Young Adult