Diabetic cystopathy (DCP) represents the state of bladder dysfunction induced by diabetes mellitus. 40 diabetic patients, 27 males and 13 females, were clinically evaluated. The age of male patients averaged 63 years old and that of female 59. The average period of diabetes mellitus was 5.7 years.
1. Cystometric examination revealed the following results; hypotonic pattern, said to be characteristic of DCP, was found only in 13 patients (33%), normal pattern in 18 (45%), and hypertonic pattern including the uninhibited contraction in 9 (23%), 8 of which had the complication of cerebrovascular lesion.
2. Difference of bladder capacity between at the first desire to void (FDV) and the maximum desire to void (MDV) was less than 100ml in 55% of patients. This new parameter seems to be of significance in the diagnosis of DCP, suggesting the presence of sensory disturbance of the urinary bladder.
3. The maximum urethral pressure, length of continence zone and the total profile length, observed by urethral pressure profile, did not show any significant difference statistically in both sexes compared to the control value.
4. Urinary flow curve demonstrated that both the average and maximum flow rates were lower than the normal value in the majority of cases.
5. Cystourethrography, performed in 7 patients, showed the atonic form of bladder in 4 and normal form in 3. None had the vesicoureteral reflux.
6. Residual urine averaged 78ml in males and 129ml in females.
7. Hypotonic cystometrogram was often observed in such cases as suffering from diabetes mellitus over 10 years and requiring both medical treatment and diet. Fast blood sugar level, insulinogenic index, and presence of neuropathy, nephropathy and retinopathy demonstrated no correlation with the type of cystometrogram.
8. 7 DCP patients were presented with their symptoms and treatments.
9. Over-enthusiatic dependance on parasympathomimetics should now be reconsidered for the treatment of DCP. A habit of repetitive voiding, non-sterile intermittent self-catheterization, alpha adrenergic blocker are the subsequent alternatives. Parasympatholytic drug is effective for the urianry incontinence due to the uninhibited bladder contraction. Transurethral resection of the bladder neck might be indicated in such a case as with an enlarged prostate.
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