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Cannabinoids for treating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Abo Youssef Nadim,
Schneider Marc P.,
Mordasini Livio,
Ineichen Benjamin V.,
Bachmann Lucas M.,
ChartierKastler Emmanuel,
Panicker Jalesh N.,
Kessler Thomas M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
bju international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.773
H-Index - 148
eISSN - 1464-410X
pISSN - 1464-4096
DOI - 10.1111/bju.13759
Subject(s) - multiple sclerosis , meta analysis , urinary system , medicine , lower urinary tract symptoms , immunology , prostate , cancer
Objectives To review systematically all the available evidence on efficacy and safety of cannabinoids for treating neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction ( NLUTD ) in patients with multiple sclerosis ( MS ). Patients and Methods The review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses ( PRISMA ) statement. Studies were identified by electronic search of the Cochrane register, Embase, Medline, Scopus (last search on 11 November 2016). Results After screening 8 469 articles, we included two randomized controlled trials and one open‐label study, in which a total of 426 patients were enrolled. Cannabinoids relevantly decreased the number of incontinence episodes in all three studies. Pooling data showed the mean difference in incontinence episodes per 24 h to be −0.35 (95% confidence interval −0.46 to −0.24). Mild adverse events were frequent (38–100%), but only two patients (0.7%) reported a serious adverse event. Conclusions Preliminary data imply that cannabinoids might be an effective and safe treatment option for NLUTD in patients with MS ; however, the evidence base is poor and more high‐quality, well‐designed and adequately powered and sampled studies are urgently needed to reach definitive conclusions.