Impact of HTLV-I in quality of life and urogynecologic parameters of women with urinary incontinence

ObjectiveTo assess the impact of urinary incontinence in quality of life, epidemiological data, symptoms, findings of gynecological/neurological examination and urodynamic of HTLV-I seropositive women compared with HTLV-I negative women.Study design43 incontinent women were divided in two groups: 24 seropositives and 19 seronegatives for HTLV-I. We used King's Health Questionnaire (KHQ), standardized recorded data and urodynamics. Data were compared using Mann–Whitney test or Chi-squared test.ResultsQuality of life was significantly worse in seropositive incontinent women in the following parameters: general perception of health, impact of incontinence, limitation of daily life activities, social relations, sleep and disposition. Also, the following gynecological/neurological symptoms were more prevalent in seropositives: pain on vesical filling, dyspareunia, parestesis in inferior members, increased perineal sensitivity, pain in vaginal palpation, increased vaginal tonus, gait alteration, increased patellar reflex, Babinski reflex positive and increased tonus in inferior members.ConclusionPoor quality of life and physical abnormalities were identified in incontinent HTLV-I seropositive women when compared with incontinent HTLV-I seronegative women.