Urethral closure pressure and leak-point pressure in incontinent women.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between maximum urethral closure pressure and Valsalva leak-point pressure in women with genuine stress incontinence (GSI).

METHODS

Fifty-six women with GSI were evaluated in a urodynamics laboratory. Maximum urethral closure pressure and vesical leak-point pressure were measured with multichannel urodynamic testing. The correlation coefficient and regression line were calculated.

RESULTS

Forty subjects demonstrated a leak on Valsalva maneuver and, in these women, maximum urethral closure pressure and leak-point pressures were related significantly (r = 0.62, P < .001). The relationship was strongest between leak-point pressure up to 120 cm H2O and absolute vesical pressure with Valsalva rather than with a change in vesical pressure. The sensitivity of leak-point pressure for predicting low urethral pressure was 100%.

CONCLUSION

There is a correlation between maximum urethral closure pressure and leak-point pressure that can provide useful information about incontinence in women.