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Racial differences in female urethral morphology and levator hiatal dimensions: An ultrasound study
Author(s) -
Derpapas Alexandros,
Ahmed Shahla,
Vijaya Gopalan,
Digesu Giuseppe Alessandro,
Regan Lesley,
Fernando Ruwan,
Khullar Vik
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
neurourology and urodynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1520-6777
pISSN - 0733-2467
DOI - 10.1002/nau.21181
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , pelvic floor , urinary incontinence , body mass index , ultrasonography , levator ani , gynecology , urology , surgery
Aim To compare the urethral sphincter morphology and levator hiatal dimensions between white and black premenopausal nulliparous asymptomatic women using 3D/4D translabial ultrasonography. Methods Nulliparous black and white women were recruited in a tertiary gynecological center. All women were completely asymptomatic for pelvic floor dysfunction. Women were assessed with 3D/4D translabial ultrasound scan of the pelvic floor, at rest. Measurements of the total urethral sphincter volume (TSV), rhabdosphincter volume, (RSV) and levator hiatal dimensions (LH) were taken at rest, after voiding. Results Twenty‐three white and 14 black women (37 in total) were investigated. Subjects did not differ by age or body mass index (BMI). Black women were found to have significantly larger rhabdosphincters (RS) than their white counterparts (8.88 cm 3 ± 1.65 vs. 5.97 cm 3 ± 1.82, respectively, P = 0.000). With respect to levator hiatal dimensions at rest, black women had a significantly wider transverse diameter (LHt) than white women (mean difference of LHt = 0.43 cm, 95% CI 0.08–0.78, P < 0.05). Conclusions Asymptomatic black nulliparous women have significantly larger rhabdosphincters than their white counterparts. Racial differences in the female urethral morphology could provide an insight on the pathophysiology of stress urinary incontinence. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:502–507, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.