Clinical and laboratory assessment of the efficacy of baclofen (Lioresal) on urethral sphincter spasticity in patients with traumatic paraplegia.

A comparative clinical trial with oral and intravenous baclofen (Lioresal) was performed in a homogeneous group of 70 male patients, hospitalized with traumatic paraplegia. The dosage was 75 mg daily by mouth over a period of 10 days or 20 mg daily i.v. for 2 days. Drug efficacy was evaluated both clinically (residual urine; facilitation of micturition) and urodynamically (integrated cystosphincterometry, sphincter electromyography and micturition cysto-urethrograms). During oral therapy there were no significant changes in any of the studied parameters. Intravenous administration, on the contrary, proved highly effective and better tolerated.