A case of acute urinary retention caused by periaqueductal grey lesion
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《神经病学神经外科学杂志》
1 Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
2 Department of Urology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
3 School of Psychological Science, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Sapporo, Japan
Correspondence to:
Dr I Yabe
Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, N-15 W-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; yabe@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Keywords: periaqueductal grey; midbrain; urinary retention; demyelination; neurogenic bladder
Diseases of the central nervous system often cause disturbances in micturition. These diseases include lesions in the spinal cord, pons, cerebellum, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cerebrum. Of these regions, the dorsomedial pontine tegmentum (pontine micturition centre, PMC), frontal lobe, and sacral spinal cord are considered important in controlling micturition. Recent studies in healthy humans using positron emission tomography (PET) have shown a significant increase in blood flow in the PMC and midbrain periaqueductal grey (PAG) during micturition and urine storage.1–3 Thus, in addition to the PMC, the PAG may play an important role in micturition control. However, to our knowledge, there is no clinical report that identifies the role of the PAG in micturition. Here we report a case of acute urinary retention caused by a small lesion in the PAG. A favourable response to steroid therapy resulted in the normalisation of micturition.
Case report
A 31 year old man had sudden voiding difficulty resulting in urinary retention and was referred to a neurologist. Although no particular abnormalities were observed except for an abnormal signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the right dorsal portion of the midbrain, he was suspected to have a demyelinating or inflammatory disease and 30 mg of oral prednisolone daily was prescribed. On the day he began prednisolone therapy, he was able to void but this was transient, and he was unable to void again two days later. He was referred to our department for further evaluation.
The patient’s personal and family histories were negative for neurological disorders. Physical examination was unremarkable. Neurological examination revealed nothing but the inability to void. His cranial nerve functions, motor and sensory systems, and autonomic nervous system were intact with preserved anal reflex, penile erection, and ejaculation. Nerve conduction studies on all four extremities and thermography of the upper extremities were normal.
A filling cystometrogram revealed an atonic bladder with diminished bladder sensation. There was no overflow incontinence.
Laboratory tests and analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid were all within normal reference ranges including immunological examinations. However, MRI of the brain showed a small abnormal signal in the right dorsal part of the PAG that was hypointense on T1-weighted image (WI) and hyperintense on T2-WI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) (fig 1A). The lesion was not enhanced with contrast material. No other abnormalities were found on the MRI.
Figure 1 (A) T2-weighted magnetic resonance image (T2-WI) showing hyperintensity in the periaqueductal grey (PAG) where a significant increase in blood flow has been observed on positron emission tomography during micturition and urine storage in healthy humans.1 (B) T2-WI showing a reduction in the intensity of the PAG lesion after steroid therapy.
Although we were unable to establish a diagnosis despite the thorough work up, we considered the PAG lesion to be responsible for his urinary symptoms and a disease originating from an immunologic abnormality such as vasculitis, was suspected based on the MRI findings and the favourable response to the steroid therapy. Therefore, 1 g methylprednisolone was given intravenously for three days (steroid pulse therapy), followed by 60 mg oral prednisolone for two weeks which was then tapered at a rate of 10 mg/week. After the steroid therapy was initiated, the patient’s symptoms and the PAG lesion on subsequent MRI of the brain improved and he was able to void (fig 1B). However, the inability to void recurred, and a second course of pulsed steroid therapy was given. Day by day his symptoms improved again and resolved completely.
Comment
The patient reported here presented with acute urinary retention and diminished bladder sensation. The only abnormality detected by imaging, laboratory, and electrophysiological studies was a small PAG lesion. Therefore, we concluded that the PAG lesion was responsible for his symptoms. Unfortunately, we could not establish a diagnosis. However, on the basis of the favourable response to steroid therapy he was suspected to have a disease caused by some immunological abnormality.
Blok et al reported that in human PET studies the right dorsomedial pontine tegmentum and the PAG were significantly activated during micturition.1 In addition, the results of various studies also suggest that the PAG, especially the right dorsal part, plays a critical role in the control of micturition, possibly as the relay centre from the spinal cord to the PMC.2,3 The PAG lesion in the present case was located at the site identified in PET studies to be significantly activated during micturition. Although more similar cases are needed to establish a true relation, our findings in the present case provide direct clinical evidence of the role of the PAG in integrating the micturition reflex in humans.
References
Blok BF, Willemsen AT, Holstege G. A PET study on brain control of micturition in humans. Brain 1997;120:111–21.
Athwal BS, Berkley KJ, Hussain I, et al. Brain responses to changes in bladder volume and urge to void in healthy men. Brain 2001;124:369–77.
Nour S , Svarer C, Kristensen JK, et al. Cerebral activation during micturition in normal men. Brain 2000;123:781–9.(H Yaguchi1, H Soma1, Y Mi)
2 Department of Urology, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Medicine, Sapporo, Japan
3 School of Psychological Science, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Sapporo, Japan
Correspondence to:
Dr I Yabe
Department of Neurology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, N-15 W-7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8638, Japan; yabe@med.hokudai.ac.jp
Keywords: periaqueductal grey; midbrain; urinary retention; demyelination; neurogenic bladder
Diseases of the central nervous system often cause disturbances in micturition. These diseases include lesions in the spinal cord, pons, cerebellum, hypothalamus, basal ganglia, and cerebrum. Of these regions, the dorsomedial pontine tegmentum (pontine micturition centre, PMC), frontal lobe, and sacral spinal cord are considered important in controlling micturition. Recent studies in healthy humans using positron emission tomography (PET) have shown a significant increase in blood flow in the PMC and midbrain periaqueductal grey (PAG) during micturition and urine storage.1–3 Thus, in addition to the PMC, the PAG may play an important role in micturition control. However, to our knowledge, there is no clinical report that identifies the role of the PAG in micturition. Here we report a case of acute urinary retention caused by a small lesion in the PAG. A favourable response to steroid therapy resulted in the normalisation of micturition.
Case report
A 31 year old man had sudden voiding difficulty resulting in urinary retention and was referred to a neurologist. Although no particular abnormalities were observed except for an abnormal signal intensity on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the right dorsal portion of the midbrain, he was suspected to have a demyelinating or inflammatory disease and 30 mg of oral prednisolone daily was prescribed. On the day he began prednisolone therapy, he was able to void but this was transient, and he was unable to void again two days later. He was referred to our department for further evaluation.
The patient’s personal and family histories were negative for neurological disorders. Physical examination was unremarkable. Neurological examination revealed nothing but the inability to void. His cranial nerve functions, motor and sensory systems, and autonomic nervous system were intact with preserved anal reflex, penile erection, and ejaculation. Nerve conduction studies on all four extremities and thermography of the upper extremities were normal.
A filling cystometrogram revealed an atonic bladder with diminished bladder sensation. There was no overflow incontinence.
Laboratory tests and analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid were all within normal reference ranges including immunological examinations. However, MRI of the brain showed a small abnormal signal in the right dorsal part of the PAG that was hypointense on T1-weighted image (WI) and hyperintense on T2-WI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) (fig 1A). The lesion was not enhanced with contrast material. No other abnormalities were found on the MRI.
Figure 1 (A) T2-weighted magnetic resonance image (T2-WI) showing hyperintensity in the periaqueductal grey (PAG) where a significant increase in blood flow has been observed on positron emission tomography during micturition and urine storage in healthy humans.1 (B) T2-WI showing a reduction in the intensity of the PAG lesion after steroid therapy.
Although we were unable to establish a diagnosis despite the thorough work up, we considered the PAG lesion to be responsible for his urinary symptoms and a disease originating from an immunologic abnormality such as vasculitis, was suspected based on the MRI findings and the favourable response to the steroid therapy. Therefore, 1 g methylprednisolone was given intravenously for three days (steroid pulse therapy), followed by 60 mg oral prednisolone for two weeks which was then tapered at a rate of 10 mg/week. After the steroid therapy was initiated, the patient’s symptoms and the PAG lesion on subsequent MRI of the brain improved and he was able to void (fig 1B). However, the inability to void recurred, and a second course of pulsed steroid therapy was given. Day by day his symptoms improved again and resolved completely.
Comment
The patient reported here presented with acute urinary retention and diminished bladder sensation. The only abnormality detected by imaging, laboratory, and electrophysiological studies was a small PAG lesion. Therefore, we concluded that the PAG lesion was responsible for his symptoms. Unfortunately, we could not establish a diagnosis. However, on the basis of the favourable response to steroid therapy he was suspected to have a disease caused by some immunological abnormality.
Blok et al reported that in human PET studies the right dorsomedial pontine tegmentum and the PAG were significantly activated during micturition.1 In addition, the results of various studies also suggest that the PAG, especially the right dorsal part, plays a critical role in the control of micturition, possibly as the relay centre from the spinal cord to the PMC.2,3 The PAG lesion in the present case was located at the site identified in PET studies to be significantly activated during micturition. Although more similar cases are needed to establish a true relation, our findings in the present case provide direct clinical evidence of the role of the PAG in integrating the micturition reflex in humans.
References
Blok BF, Willemsen AT, Holstege G. A PET study on brain control of micturition in humans. Brain 1997;120:111–21.
Athwal BS, Berkley KJ, Hussain I, et al. Brain responses to changes in bladder volume and urge to void in healthy men. Brain 2001;124:369–77.
Nour S , Svarer C, Kristensen JK, et al. Cerebral activation during micturition in normal men. Brain 2000;123:781–9.(H Yaguchi1, H Soma1, Y Mi)