Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
|
Inclusion CriteriaFor patients with MS:
-
-
Diagnosis according to the McDonald criteria
-
-
Having a score on the Kurtzke Expanded Disability Status Scale ≤ 6.5
-
-
Free of relapses in the previous 3 months
For patients with idiopathic LUT symptoms:For patients with predominant storage symptoms:
-
-
Urinary urgency (≥2 episodes per week), urinary frequency (>8/24 h), and/or incontinence
-
-
Post-void residual volume < 150 mL
For patients with predominant voiding symptoms:-
-
Hesitancy, slow or intermittent stream, straining to void, or relying on catheterisation for bladder emptying
For patients with mixed storage and voiding LUT symptoms:
-
-
Urgency (≥2 episodes per week), urinary frequency (>8/24 h), and/or incontinence
-
-
Hesitancy, slow or intermittent stream, straining to void, or relying on catheterisation for bladder emptying
For patients with neurological disease without LUT symptoms:For healthy subjects:
-
-
Good mental and physical health
-
-
Normal functioning of the LUT
-
-
No episodes of urinary urgency or incontinence; urinary frequency < 8/24 h
-
-
No malignancy or previous surgery of the LUT or genitalia
-
-
No previous spine or pelvic surgery
|
Exclusion Criteria
-
-
Pregnant, breast feeding, or planning to become pregnant during the study duration
-
-
Any contraindications to having MRI (e.g., ferromagnetic implants), as assessed by the NMR unit’s MRI safety checklist
-
-
Craniocerebral injuries or surgeries
-
-
Known neurological disease other than that being used for the investigation
-
-
Cognitive impairment, as assessed by a Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) score < 23
-
-
Presence of additional active urological disease that might explain LUT symptoms
-
-
Surgery of the LUT or genitalia within the last year or that is related to the LUT symptoms, as per the discretion of the investigator
-
-
Any anatomical anomaly of LUT/genitalia
-
-
Active LUT malignancy or metabolic disease, as per the discretion of the investigator
-
-
For the functional brain imaging part, additional exclusion criteria apply:
-
-
Receiving concomitant treatment for LUTS
-
-
Received tibial nerve stimulation or intravesical Botulinum A toxin injections within the previous six months
-
-
If on an antimuscarinic medication, unwilling to discontinue for at least 5 days prior to having MRI assessment
|