Abstract
We have employed the alpha blocking drug Nicergoline in 14 patients with neuropathic bladder dysfunction of the upper motor neurone type.
The oral administration of 15–30 mgrs/day of this drug over a period of 9.5 months significantly improved the urodynamic parameters, with an increase of bladder capacity, a disappearance or amelioration of uninhibited bladder contractions and a decrease in urethral pressure, profile urethral length and residual urine.
Two patients with vesico-ureteral reflux present before treatment showed radiological improvement after Nicergoline administration.
Tolerance of Nicergoline had been excellent without appreciable side effects. In conclusion, Nicergoline seems to be active and well tolerated in the pharmacological treatment of neuropathic bladder dysfunction.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
References
Arcari, G, Bernardi, L, Bosisio, G, Coda, S Fregnan, B & Glasser, A H (1972). 10 alpha methoxyergoline derivatives as alpha adrenergic blocking agents. Experientia, 28, 319–320.
Awad, S A, Pruce, A W, Carro-Ciampi, G, Downie, J W, Lin, M & Marks, G S (1974). Distribution of alpha and beta adrenoceptors in human urinary bladder. Br. J. Pharmacol., 50, 525–529.
Bates, P, Bradley, W E, Glen, E, Melchior, E, Rowan, D, Sterling, A & Hald, T (1977). First report on the standardization of terminology of lower urinary tract function. Urol. Int., 32, 81–87.
Bec, P, Doly, N & Arne, J L (1976). Etude de l'action de la Nicergoline en ophtalmologie. Gaz. Med. France, 83, 2119–2122.
Boismare, F, Leclerc, J L, Lefrancois, J, Moore, N, Paux, G, Schrub, J C & Vuillermet, P (1981). Effets hémodynamiques et métaboliques de l’epreuve d’effort chez l’arteritique diabétique traté ou non par la Nicergoline. Sem. Hop. Paris, 57, 1455–1457.
Brown, W & Whickham, J E A (1969). The urethral pressure profile. Br. J. Urol., 41, 211–217.
Caine, M, Raz, S & Zeigler, M (1975). Adrenergic and cholinergic receptors in the human prostate, prostatic capsule and bladder neck. Br. J. Urol., 47, 193–202.
Caine, M, Pfau, A & Perlberg, S (1976). The use of alpha adrenergic blockers in benign prostatic obstruction. Br. J. Urol., 48, 255–263.
Donker, P J, Ivanovici, F & Noach, E L (1972). Analyses of the urethral pressure profile by means of electromyography and the administration of drugs. Br. J. Urol., 44, 180–193.
Hachen, H J (1980). Clinical and urodynamic assessment of alpha-adrenolytic therapy in patients with neurogenic bladder function. Paraplegia, 18, 229–238.
Jensen, D (1981). Uninhibited neurogenic bladder treated with Prazosin. Scand. J. Urol. Nephrol., 15, 229–233.
Kaplan, P E & Nanninga, J B (1979). Reduction of bladder contractility after alpha adrenergic blockade and after ganglionic blockade. Acta Nenrol. Scand., 59, 172–173.
Khanna, O M P (1976). Disorders of micturition. Neuropharmacological basis and results of drug therapy. Urology, 8, 316–328.
Kiruluta, G H, Mercer, A R & Winsor, G M (1981). Prazosin as a cause of urinary incontinence. Urology, 18, 618–619.
Koyanagi, T, Arikado, K, Takamatsu, T & Tsudi, T (1982). Relevance of sympathetic dyssinergya in the region of external urethral sphincter: possible mechanism of voiding dysfunction in the absence of (somatic) sphincter dyssinergya. J. Urol., 127, 277–282.
Migne, J, Saint-Maurice, J P, Santonja, R & Kuntz, S (1974). Activité anti-agrégant plaquettaire. Effets d’un alpha-bloqueur: la Nicergoline. Sem. Hop. Paris, 50, 649–655.
Mobley, D F (1976). Phenoxybenzamine in the management of neurogenic vesical dysfunction. J. Urol., 116, 737–738.
Nordling, J, Christensen, B & Gosling, J A (1980). Noradrenergic innervation of the human bladder in neurogenic dysfunction. Urol. Int., 35, 188–193.
Pedersen, E, Torring, J & Klemar, B (1980). Effect of the alpha-adrenergic blocking agent thymoxamine on the neurogenic bladder and urethra. Acta Neurol. Scand., 61, 107–114.
Pony, J C, Bourdonnec, C, Amelot, J, Dallerac, J, Daubert, J C & Gouffault, J (1982). Etude hémodynamique de la Nicergoline. Ann. Cardiol. Angéiol., 31, 67–70.
Ronchi, F, Maronato, A, Ceccardi, R, Rigatti, P & Sossini, B M (1982). Symptomatic treatment of bening prostatic obstruction with Nicergoline: a placebo controlled clinical study and urodynamic evaluation. Urol. Res., 10, 131–134.
Rossier, A N, Fam, B A, Lee, L Y, Sarkarati, M & Evans, D A (1982). Role of striated and smooth muscle components in the urethral pressure profile in traumatic neurogenic bladders: a neuropharmacological and urodynamic study. J. Urol., 128, 529–535.
Scott, M B & Morrow, J W (1978). Phenoxibenzamine in neurogenic bladder dysfunction after spinal cord injury. I. Voiding dysfunction. J. Urol., 119, 480–482.
Scott, M B & Morrow, J W (1978). Phenoxybenzamine in neurogenic bladder dysfunction after spinal cord injury. II. Autonomic dysrreflexia. J. Urol., 119, 483–484.
Whitfield, H N, Doyle, P T, Mayo, M E & Poopalasingham, N (1976). The effect of adrenergic blocking drugs on outflow resistance. Br. J. Urol., 47, 823–827.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gallego, J., Forner, V., Jimenez, F. et al. Nicergoline in the treatment of neuropathic bladder dysfunction: a preliminary report. Spinal Cord 22, 216–224 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1984.37
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1984.37