Original Article

Spinal Cord (2008) 46, 622–626; doi:10.1038/sc.2008.25; published online 8 April 2008

Evaluation of cranberry tablets for the prevention of urinary tract infections in spinal cord injured patients with neurogenic bladder

M J Hess1, P E Hess2, M R Sullivan3, M Nee2 and S V Yalla3

  1. 1Department of Spinal Cord Injury, VA Boston Health Care System, West Roxbury, MA, USA
  2. 2Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
  3. 3Department of Urology, VA Boston Health Care System, West Roxbury, MA, USA

Correspondence: Dr MJ Hess, Department of Spinal Cord Injury, VA Boston Health Care System, Building 2, 1400 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA 02132, USA. E-mail: Marika.hess@med.va.gov

Received 11 March 2007; Revised 3 December 2007; Accepted 15 December 2007; Published online 8 April 2008.

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Abstract

Study Design:

 

Randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trial with a crossover design.

Objective:

 

To evaluate cranberry tablets for the prevention of urinary tract infection (UTI) in spinal cord injured (SCI) patients.

Setting:

 

Spinal Cord Injury Unit of a Veterans Administration Hospital, MA, USA.

Methods:

 

Subjects with spinal cord injury and documentation of neurogenic bladder were randomized to receive 6 months of cranberry extract tablet or placebo, followed by the alternate preparation for an additional 6 months. The primary outcome was the incidence of UTI.

Results:

 

Forty-seven subjects completed the trial. We found a reduction in the likelihood of UTI and symptoms for any month while receiving the cranberry tablet (P<0.05 for all). During the cranberry period, 6 subjects had 7 UTI, compared with 16 subjects and 21 UTI in the placebo period (P<0.05 for both number of subjects and incidence). The frequency of UTI was reduced to 0.3 UTI per year vs 1.0 UTI per year while receiving placebo. Subjects with a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) greater than 75 ml min-1 received the most benefit.

Conclusion:

 

Cranberry extract tablets should be considered for the prevention of UTI in SCI patients with neurogenic bladder. Patients with a high GFR may receive the most benefit.

Sponsorship:

 

Spinal Cord Research Foundation, sponsored by the Paralyzed Veterans of America

Keywords:

cranberry, spinal cord injury, neurogenic bladder, urinary tract infection

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