[Vesicourethral dysfunction in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)].

OBJECTIVES

Ten patients with AIDS and voiding disorders were assessed to determine the most common type of lower urinary tract dysfunction and its possible usefulness in detecting neurological disease.

METHODS

A complete urodynamic evaluation was performed.

RESULTS

The most common symptom was urge incontinence and the most common urodynamic finding was detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia. Of the 5 patients found to have a neurological disorder, only 3 had demonstrable functional disorder of the lower urinary tract (2 patients had detrusor hyperreflexia: one of them had a history of encephalopathy from HIV and the other patient had polyneuritis; the third patient had myelitis and a urodynamically diagnosed sympathetic decentration.

CONCLUSIONS

Knowing the functional disorders of patients with AIDS can avoid complications and improve patient quality of life. Furthermore, it can be useful in detecting an existing neurological lesion or one that may develop in the future.