Use of tolterodine in children with dysfunctional voiding: an initial report.

PURPOSE: Tolterodine was recently approved for the treatment of incontinence and overactive bladder in adults, and has fewer side effects than oxybutynin. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of tolterodine in children with dysfunctional voiding. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our experience with 30 pediatric patients treated with tolterodine for a primary diagnosis of dysfunctional voiding. Patients were treated with adult doses of tolterodine and behavioral modifications. Standard definitions determined by the International Children's Continence Society were adapted to designate final treatment outcomes on medication as cured-greater than 90% reduction in wetting episodes, improved-greater than 50% reduction or failed-less than 50% reduction. RESULTS: The children were 4 to 17 years old (mean age 8.7) and were treated with tolterodine for an average of 5.2 months. The final dose was 1 mg. twice daily in 1, 2 mg. twice daily in 27 and 4 mg. twice daily in 2 patients. Wetting episodes were cured in 10 (33%), improved in 12 (40%), and failed to show improvement in 8 (27%) cases. Four patients (13.3%) reported side effects and only 1 discontinued the medication due to diarrhea. There were no reports of hyperpyrexia, flushing or intolerance to sunshine and outdoor temperature. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that tolterodine at adult doses without titration can be used safely to decrease wetting episodes in children with dysfunctional voiding. Controlled clinical trials should be completed to evaluate further efficacy and safety in children.

Prenatally diagnosed autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease: initial postnatal management.

We report a case of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD). A presumptive diagnosis was made after a late-term prenatal ultrasound revealed hypoplastic lungs, massive polycystic kidneys, and oligohydramnios. A full-term baby girl was delivered vaginally. Respiratory distress required intubation. Twelve hours after birth, she underwent bilateral nephrectomy and peritoneal dialysis catheter placement. The average kidney size was 150 g and 9.25 cm. Pathologic examination confirmed ARPKD. Peritoneal dialysis was started on the third day of life. The baby had no gross neurologic deficit. At 6 months of age, she was growing well, and the mother was a candidate to be a living-related kidney donor.

Two cases of lateral sinus thrombosis presenting with extracranial head and neck abscesses.

Two cases of lateral sinus thrombosis in fit adults with no previous otological history are presented. One case occurred in association with Bezold's abscess and followed mastoiditis which was masked by previous antibiotic treatment. The other case occurred in association with an occipitoparietal scalp abscess and there was no obvious preceding middle ear infection. The causative bacteria were Streptococcus milleri and a variant Streptococcus intermedius. Lateral sinus thrombosis is discussed.

Measurement and partial characterization of an interleukin-2 inhibitor (IL-2-IN) in human urine.

We observed a human urine-derived protein complex (IL-2-IN) which competitively inhibits interleukin-2 (IL-2) dependent murine lymphocyte proliferation. Measurements of urinary IL-2-IN have been used to stratify the immune response of patients to bacteria in the bladder. Partial characterization of IL-2-IN indicates that it is a heat-stable, 75 kDa complex comprised of interleukin-2 bound to another protein(s). Although the IL-2-IN complex is stable in physiologic buffers, the complex can be disrupted using acidic or low-ionic strength buffers, thereby liberating IL-2. IL-2-IN activity is susceptible to bacterial and endogenous urinary proteolysis. The IL-2 bound in the IL-2-IN complex cannot be detected using a double monoclonal antibody radioimmunoassay for IL-2. Unlike other IL-2 binding proteins, the IL-2 binding protein of the IL-2-IN complex is not a soluble interleukin-2 receptor. A modification of the bioassay for interleukin-2 activity is the method of choice for the detection and quantification of urinary IL-2-IN.

Twin pregnancy: routine use of ultrasound examinations in the prenatal diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation and discordant growth.

A prospective study was undertaken in 42 normal twin pregnancies to determine the value of routine ultrasound evaluation in the prenatal diagnosis of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and intra-pair growth discordancy in twin gestations. Use of multiple sonographic parameters significantly improved diagnostic accuracy when compared with the use of single parameters, such as biparietal diameter (BPD) alone in the prepartum diagnosis of these two entities.