Backround:

In 1986, Fowler et al. described a syndrome in which young women suffered of an unexplained urinary retention associated to a weak relaxing external urethral sphincter. Electromyographic studies have shown an abnormal activity of the urethral sphincter in Fowler´s Syndrome women, suggesting that urinary retention is due to an ephaptic transmission of impulses between their muscle fibers. However, this syndrome is yet unknown and underdiagnosed.

Objective:

To know the micturition characteristics and uroflowmetry of Fowler´s Syndrome patients attended at the Centro de Urología Avanzada CURA at Delicias city, Chihuahua, Mexico, from January 2018 to January 2021.

Material and methods:

Clinical records were examined from patients who attended the consultation and were diagnosed with the Fowler´s Syndrome. The demographic characteristics, evolution time process, mayor symptoms, residual post-voiding volume, bladder diary and the uroflowmetry using surface EMG, were determined.

Results:

Ten women were diagnosed with the Fowler´s Syndrome and presented a clinical record of acute urinary retention (AUR). The mean age was 41.4 ±17.51 years old and the mean of the syndrome evolution was 31.2±23.46 mo. The mean urinary frequency was 14.2±4.75 micturitions/24h, the mean of the Qmax was 22.74±11.49 cc/s. the mean voided volume was 198.30±89.54cc and the mean of post void volume was 231.5±86.12 cc. EMG in all patients showed a hypertonic and lack of relaxation pattern.

Conclusions:

In the clinic, Fowler´s syndrome exhibits chronic urinary retention with repetitive urinary infections without intravesical obstruction. Its diagnosis is possible through non-invasive urodynamic procedures such as uroflowmetry accompanied urethral surface EMG and post void volume assessment.

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