No abstract

We compared urodynamic findings and results of lateral urethrocystography in 84 case. The aim of the study was to establish a possible correlation between anatomic findings and functional results. Clinically, a significantly greater increase in the normal axis of urethral inclination was noted in patients with a urodynamic diagnosis of stress incontinence than in patients with urge incontinence or for normal urodynamic findings. Lateral urethrocystography vis-à-vis urodynamic assessment proved to be a method having high sensitivity (91%) but low specificity. These two methods supply different but complementary data. Together with the patients' medical history, the assessment of their complaints, clinical vaginal examination, and clinical stress test, they offer valuable information for an efficient therapeutic concept.

To examine the role of mineralocorticoids in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH), we studied plasma aldosterone and 18-hydroxycorticosterone levels in 25 women with PIH and 25 normal pregnant women, as controls. Furthermore, we evaluated the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) status in mononuclear leukocytes in the 2 groups. MR count was significantly (P less than 0.0005) decreased in the PIH group (148 +/- 9 binding sites/cell) compared with the control group (300 +/- 17 binding sites/cell; mean +/- SEM). Plasma aldosterone in women with PIH was 281 +/- 61 pmol/L; in normal pregnant women it was 697 +/- 172 pmol/L (P less than 0.025). Plasma 18-hydroxycorticosterone was also significantly (P less than 0.025) lower (PIH, 1071 +/- 149 pmol/L; controls, 1907 +/- 318 pmol/L). These values were determined at the onset of clinical symptoms of PIH. These results cannot be explained by receptor down-regulation due to higher levels of mineralocorticoids in PIH; a hitherto unknown mineralocorticoid may, thus, be responsible for the hypertension and altered MR status.

No abstract

We compared urodynamic findings and results of lateral cystourethrography in 82 patients with incontinence. The aim of the study was to establish a possible correlation between anatomic findings and functional results. Clinically, a significantly higher increase of the posterior urethrovesicular angle was noted in patients with a urodynamic stress incontinence than in patients with urge incontinence or those with normal urodynamic findings. Lateral cystourethrography as compared to urodynamic assessment, proved to be a method with high sensitivity (91%) but little specificity. These two methods supply different but complementary data. Together with history, assessment of patients' complaints, clinical vaginal examination, and clinical stress test they offer valuable information for an efficient therapeutic concept.