Response to the Letter to the Editor Regarding “Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Male Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: Prevalence and Associations With Quality of Life, Depression, and Anxiety”
Makaleler > Kısa Makale · 2025
Yazarlar: Yeşim AKKOÇ, Bedriye KARAMAN, Asli Koskderelioglu, Özgül EKMEKCİ, Neslihan Eskut, Ayşe Nur YÜCEYAR
Neurourology and Urodynamics, Uluslararası, Wos, 2025, cilt 45, ss 242-243
DOI: 10.1002/nau.70165
Özet
Objective To address key methodological and interpretative issues raised by Messina et al. concerning subgroup analyses, comorbidities, and treatment-related factors in our study of LUTS in male MS patients. Methods We reviewed the study design and findings in light of the raised comments, focusing on disease subtype distribution, comorbidity evaluation, and the influence of disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) on urinary symptoms. Results First, the predominance of relapsing-remitting MS in our cohort limited the possibility of robust subgroup analyses, emphasizing the need for larger and more balanced cohorts. Second, although benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) was unlikely due to the relatively young sample, other comorbidities might have contributed to LUTS, highlighting the value of objective diagnostic assessments. Third, while DMTs could potentially increase the risk of urinary tract infections, treatment-related data were not systematically collected. Conclusion Despite these limitations, our findings reaffirm the high prevalence of LUTS among male MS patients and their strong associations with decreased quality of life, anxiety, and depression. We appreciate the constructive feedback from Dr. Messina and colleagues, which helped refine the interpretation of our results.