Behçet's syndrome and vesicovaginal fistula: an unusual complication

Urological manifestations and treatment of the primary systemic vasculitides

The primary systemic vasculitides (PSV) are a group of rare inflammatory disorders affecting blood vessels of varying size and multiple organs. Urological manifestations of PSV are uncommon. Testicular vasculitis is the most commonly reported finding and is associated with Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN), Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP), anti-neutrophil cytoplasm antibody associated Vasculitides (AAV), Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) and Kawasaki disease. Prostatic vasculitis has been reported in association with GCA and AAV. Ureteric involvement has been noted in PAN, HSP and AAV. Other urogenital manifestations of PSV include genital ulceration and bladder dysfunction in Behçets Disease and haematuria which is commonly seen in many of the PSV. Finally, therapies used to treat the PSV, especially cyclophosphamide, are associated with urological side-effects including haemorrhagic cystitis and urothelial malignancy. The aim of this review is to examine how the urological system is involved in the PSV. Each PSV is examined in turn, with a brief clinical description of the disease followed by a description of the urological manifestations and management. Identification of urological manifestations of PSV is important as in many cases symptoms may improve with immunosuppressive therapy, avoiding the need for invasive surgery. Additionally, patients who present with isolated urogenital PSV are at higher risk of developing subsequent systemic vasculitis and will need to be followed up closely.

Behçet's disease combined with various types of fistula

Behçet's disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing, multisystem disorder, characterized by recurrent oral ulcer, genital ulcers, eye lesion, and skin lesion. The underlying pathology is nonspecific vasculitis of all vessel sizes, and severe vasculitis can result in fistula formation of neighboring tissues due to a necrotic process. Herein, eleven cases of BD combined with fistula are presented. In the present study, various types of fistula were associated; enterocutaneous fistula in six patients, and rectovaginal fistula in two. The other three patients showed aortoduodenal fistula, urethrovaginal fistula and urethrocutaneous fistula. They were treated with a corrective operation, but the prognoses were poor due to frequent relapses.

Laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation in adults using intracorporeal freehand suturing: report of two cases

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Laparoscopic extravesical neoureterocystostomy is an infrequently described technique in adults. It is a technically demanding procedure, especially when the intracorporeal freehand suturing technique is used. Our aim is to describe two cases where we used the intracorporeal freehand suturing technique successfully for performing laparoscopic extravesical transperitoneal ureteral reimplantation. We describe the preliminary results of these cases.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed this surgery in two female patients. The first patient had a low ureterovaginal fistula after abdominal hysterectomy. We performed a laparoscopic extravesical neoureterocystostomy by the refluxing technique. The second patient had a lower-third ureteral stricture. We performed a laparoscopic extravesical neoureterocystostomy with detrusorrhaphy and supported it with a psoas hitch.

RESULTS

The average surgical time was 235 minutes. The average blood loss was 50 mL. The average stay was 48 hours, and the average time to starting oral intake was 12 hours. The average requirement for postoperative analgesia was one injection of diclofenac sodium, followed by oral ibuprofen. Follow-up urography showed good clearance of the kidney and ureter. The second patient, in whom the detrusorrhaphy was performed, did not show any reflux on the postoperative cystogram.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic extravesical neoureterocystostomy using intracorporeal freehand suturing technique, combining detrusorrhaphy and psoas hitch, is a feasible procedure in adults for various indications. The detrusorrhaphy was effective in preventing reflux, but the long-term results need to be evaluated.

Detection of prostate cancer and changes in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) six months after surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia in patients with elevated PSA

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate early postoperative results of patients with elevated prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels who underwent surgery due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

64 patients who had lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), normal digital rectal examinations (DRE), elevated PSA levels and prostate biopsies reported as being benign pathologically in specimens obtained by transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsies, were included in the study. Patients were assessed in accordance with PSA density, free/total PSA ratio and uroflowmetric studies. Patients had no cancer pre- and postoperatively (according to operative specimens). Six months postoperatively, 32 patients were accepted for re-evaluation for all PSA parameters, routine tests and prostatic biopsies.

RESULTS

64 patients with a mean age of 66.8 (SD 6.72) were included in the study. Total PSA average value was 14.38 (SD 7.49) ng/ml. Free PSA average value was 2.11 (SD 1.43) ng/ml. Average PSA density and free/total PSA ratio were 25.19 SD (14.12) ng/ml/cm(3) and 14.53% (SD 5.35%) respectively. 56 patients had BPH, 7 had chronic prostatitis and 1 had prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) preoperatively with biopsies. Re-biopsy of the patient with PIN was reported as BPH. In pathologic examination with resected tissues postoperatively, 49 patients had BPH, 14 had chronic prostatitis and 1 had PIN. In the sixth month, average values of free/total PSA were 0.45 (SD 0.26) and 3.71 (SD 4.96) ng/ml respectively. Average PSA density and free/total PSA ratio were 12.41 (SD 13.8) ng/ml/cm(3) and 19.59% (SD 10.33%) respectively. There were significant decreases in PSA densities (p < 0.001) and increases in free/total PSA ratios (p = 0.004). Seven patients still had elevated PSA levels 6 months postoperatively. Three of 7 patients were reported as chronic prostatitis. One of them was indicated as prostatic carcinoma who was reported as PIN preoperatively. All other patients were stated as BPH at re-biopsies.

CONCLUSION

If pretreatment biopsies are negative and operative specimens are also benign in patients with high PSA values, these patients can be followed up like usual BPH patients, but long-term follow-up is still unclear.

Increased prostate-specific antigen in subclinical prostatitis: the role of aggressiveness and extension of inflammation

OBJECTIVES

Subclinical prostatitis is a very frequent histologic finding in pathological examinations of prostate biopsy and prostate surgery material. In this study, we tried to investigate the correlation between the morphological parameters of histological prostatitis and total serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA)-PSA density (PSAD) to determine if either the extent or aggressiveness of inflammation might affect serum PSA.

METHODS

269 patients who had undergone TURP or transvesical prostatectomy with pathological diagnosis of BPH and prostatitis were included in the study. We retrospectively reviewed and scored the extent and aggressiveness of inflammation in prostate specimens of BPH, according to the scale that has been reported by Irani et al. and then correlated those scores with PSA and PSAD.

RESULTS

When the inflammation grades correlated with PSA and PSAD, the extent of the inflammation did not show a significant correlation with total PSA and PSAD (p > 0.05). However, there was a statistically significant correlation between aggressiveness grades and total PSA and PSAD (p < 0.001). Median PSA levels in grades 0, 1 and 2 of aggressiveness of inflammation were 3.2, 4.2 and 5.8 respectively.

CONCLUSION

Aggressiveness grade of the inflammation in subclinical prostatitis is the most important morphological factor that is responsible for PSA elevation. We believe that it should be a more accurate guide for the clinician if pathologists report on the aggressiveness grades of the inflammation, especially on initial prostate biopsies, in order to help for timing of the further biopsy.

Management of ureteral stricture disease during laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Laparoscopic surgery has many applications in urology. The surgical management of obliterative ureteral stricture disease using laparoscopy has not been widely reported. We recently implemented this technique in an adult patient with an obliterative ureteral stricture.

METHODS

A transperitoneal refluxing right ureteral reimplantation was performed using the Endostitch device. Placement of the new ureteral orifice in the bladder was monitored by simultaneous cystoscopy and laparoscopy. The anastomosis was performed without tension, torsion, or angulation and was stented for 4 weeks.

RESULTS

The operative time was 233 minutes. The blood loss was minimal. There were no intraoperative complications, and the postoperative hospital course was uneventful.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation is a safe and feasible technique. Cystoscopic determination of the neoureteral orifice is helpful. The Endostitch device is a useful adjunct in this procedure.

Ileocecal ulcer with a cecocecal fistula in Behçet's disease

We describe a case of Behçet's disease (BD) which showed the ileocecal ulcer and cecocecal fistula. This 38-year-old man had appendectomy six years ago because of colicky pain in the right lower abdomen (RLA). There are some reports on fistula formation in BD. In those, some are related to surgery and others are not. BD with cecocecal fistula, possibly associated with a past operation, has not been reported in the literature.

Bladder involvement in Behçet's syndrome

PURPOSE

We report our clinical experience with Behçet's syndrome and bladder involvement.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From April 1991 through July 1996, 7 men and 1 woman 25 to 53 years old with Behçet's syndrome were evaluated for lower urinary tract symptoms (7) or hematuria (1). Of 8 patients 5 had neurological involvement. Evaluation consisted of history, physical examination, urinalysis and urine culture, excretory urography, urodynamic studies, urethrocystoscopy, bladder biopsies and histopathological examination.

RESULTS

Cystoscopy revealed bladder ulcer in 1 patient and an indurated, hypervascular lesion in another with bilateral hydronephrosis. The most common urodynamic finding was detrusor overactivity. Of 4 patients with poor compliance 1 had additional sphincteric deficiency. Common histopathological features were moderate and marked thickening of bladder vessel walls. Lymphocytic vascular reaction was present in 2 patients and lymphocytic vasculitis in 1. Clamshell augmentation ileocystoplasty was performed in 3 patients, including 1 who also underwent a sphincter enhancement procedure. The remaining 5 patients received various nonsurgical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Various types of voiding dysfunction relating to bladder and sphincteric components in both phases of micturition can be seen in Behçet's syndrome. Voiding dysfunction can be due to either neurological or direct bladder involvement. Augmentation ileocystoplasty is a good treatment option for Behçet's syndrome with severe bladder involvement.

Urologic screening for men with Behçet's syndrome

OBJECTIVES

To establish the urologic status of men with Behcet's syndrome, because studies assessing the urologic aspect of Behçet's syndrome are rare.

METHODS

During a 2.5-year period, we evaluated 104 male patients with Behçet's syndrome, 16 to 50 years old (mean 31+/-7), using a urologic questionnaire and modified Boyarsky symptom score; 44 healthy men, 20 to 46 years old (mean 29+/-7), were used as control subjects.

RESULTS

The frequency of epididymitis in patients with Behçet's syndrome was 19.2% in this study. The mean irritative symptom score was 1.22+/-1.37 (significantly higher than the control group). The frequency of lower urinary tract symptoms (eg, dysuria, urgency, nocturia, terminal dribbling, and intermittency) was significantly higher in patients with Behcet's syndrome.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the frequency of epididymitis in men with Behcet's syndrome was much higher than previously reported. Because some lower urinary tract symptoms were significantly more frequent in these patients, we conclude that screening of such patients with urologic questionnaire and symptom scoring is essential to identify those who need further urologic evaluation.

Relationship of prostate-specific antigen levels to prostate volume and age in mass screening subjects

To evaluate the relationship between prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels and prostate volume and age in a mass screening for prostatic disease, a total of 1,162 examinees from one Japanese prefecture who were over 45 years of age underwent a mass screening for prostatic disease that used the Hybritech (Tandem(R)RIA) kit, and the prostate volume was estimated by transabdominal ultrasonography. Differences among several groups of men according to prostate volume and age were examined by multiple comparisons using ranks. When some subjects visited several times, the data of the first visit were adopted only. The total number of individual subjects in this study was 589 men. The multiple comparisons using ranks and 10-year age brackets revealed that the levels of PSA showed significant differences between only two pairs of groups stratified by age. In contrast, the levels of PSA showed significant differences among seven pairs of groups stratified by the prostate volume according to 10-ml brackets. When a logarithmic transformation of the serum levels of PSA was used, the results showed the same tendencies. From the results of the present study, it can be said that the PSA reference range calculated with stratified prostate volume might be more useful in the detection of prostate cancer than that calculated with stratified age.