Effect of propiverine hydrochloride on stress urinary incontinence.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the anticholinergic agent, propiverine hydrochloride, is clinically effective for stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: The participants were adult female patients with the chief complaint of stress incontinence. Propiverine (20 mg once daily) was given for 8 weeks. If the response was inadequate after 4 weeks of treatment, the dose was increased to 40 mg/day. Before and after 4 and 8 weeks of treatment, lower urinary tract symptoms were assessed. The urethral pressure and blood catecholamine levels were also measured. RESULTS: A total of 37 patients (mean age 69 ± 11 years) were enrolled, including 15 patients with stress incontinence and 22 with mixed incontinence. The number of episodes of stress incontinence decreased significantly from 2.6 ± 2.3 times per day to 1.3 ± 2.2 times per day after 4 weeks, and 0.4 ± 0.6 times per day after 8 weeks. The daytime and night-time frequency of urination, and quality of life score showed significant improvement. The maximum urethral closing pressure and the functional urethral length increased significantly after treatment, but blood catecholamine levels, blood pressure and pulse rate at 8 weeks were not significantly different from those at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Propiverine could be an effective drug for stress urinary incontinence by increasing urethral closing pressure without increasing blood catecholamine levels.