Sunday, November 24, 2019

Giggle incontinence

Inspired by a patient

Logan BL, Blais S. Giggle incontinence: Evolution of concept and treatment. J Pediatr Urol. 2017 Oct;13(5):430-435.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:
Giggle incontinence is a sudden and involuntary episode of urinary incontinence that is provoked by an episode of laughter. Decades of case studies and small research studies have formed the basis of what is known about giggle incontinence; however, much remains unknown about this type of incontinence, leaving the recommendations for clinical management somewhat unguided.

METHODS:
A systematic review of 22 articles on the topic of "giggle incontinence" and related terms was conducted, including all published articles and commentaries since the term was first seen in print in 1959.

RESULTS:
This review provides a historical context for the diagnosis, a summary of what is known about its etiology, and a summary of current treatments.

CONCLUSIONS:
There is disagreement about the pathophysiology of laughter incontinence, with two differing explanations. The first emphasizes the neurologic origin of the cascade of events during laughter and urination, and draws a likeness to cataplexy and other CNS disorders, and emphasizes treatment with methylphenidate. The second emphasizes urologic dysfunction, with biofeedback and bladder retraining as the recommended therapy. Comprehensive treatment of children with laughter incontinence requires an appreciation of both concepts. Since inception of the concept there has been question about the appropriateness of the term "giggle incontinence." This review encourages discussion among readers/clinicians about the term and the essential qualities of the diagnosis.

Telli O, Hamidi N, Kayis A, Suer E, Soygur T, Burgu B. Can the success of structured therapy for giggle incontinence be predicted? Int Braz J Urol. 2016 Mar-Apr;42(2):334-8.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:
To evaluate possible factors that can guide the clinician to predict potential cases refractoriness to medical treatment for giggle incontinence (GI) and to examine the effectiveness of different treatment modalities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:
The data of 48 children referred to pediatric urology outpatient clinic between 2000 and 2013 diagnosed as GI were reviewed. Mean age, follow-up, GI frequency, associated symptoms, medical and family history were noted. Incontinence frequency differed between several per day to less than once weekly. Children were evaluated with uroflowmetry-electromyography and post-void residual urine. Clinical success was characterized as a full or partial response, or nonresponse as defined by the International Children's Continence Society. Univariate analysis was used to find potential factors including age, sex, familial history, GI frequency, treatment modality and dysfunctional voiding to predict children who would possibly not respond to treatment.

RESULTS:
Mean age of the patients was 8.4 years (range 5 to 16). Mean follow-up time and mean duration of asymptomatic period were noted as 6.7±1.4 years and 14.2±2.3 months respectively. While 12 patients were treated with only behavioral urotherapy (Group-1), 11 patients were treated with alpha-adrenergic blockers and behavioral urotherapy (Group-2) and 18 patients with methylphenidate and behavioral urotherapy (Group-3). Giggle incontinence was refractory to eight children in-group 1; six children in-group 2 and eight children in-group 3. Daily GI frequency and dysfunctional voiding diagnosed on uroflowmetry-EMG were found as outstanding predictive factors for resistance to treatment modalities.

CONCLUSIONS:
A variety of therapies for GI have more than 50% failure rate and a standard treatment for GI has not been established. The use of medications to treat these patients would not be recommended, as they appear to add no benefit to symptoms and may introduce severe adverse effects.

Chang JH, Lee KY, Kim TB, Yoon SJ, Lee T, Kim KH. Clinical and urodynamic effect of methylphenidate for the treatment of giggle incontinence (enuresis risoria). Neurourol Urodyn. 2011 Sep;30(7):1338-42.

Abstract

AIMS:
We retrospectively investigated the efficacy of methylphenidate (MPH) in giggle incontinence (GI), and the relationship between GI and urodynamic parameters.

METHODS:
Nine (n = 9) female GI patients underwent 1 year of treatment with 5 mg MPH. Three questionnaires, voiding diaries, and UDS were conducted before and after treatment. The severity of GI was classified into mild, moderate, and severe. Clinical success was characterized as: full response, response, partial response, and non-response.

RESULTS:
The mean age of all patients was 16.2 ± 2.3 years. Five patients had mild, one had moderate, and three had severe grade incontinent. All patients reported complete cessation of wetting after MPH treatment. The mean duration of asymptomatic period was 7 ± 3.2 months. There were no statistically significant score changes in all three questionnaires: Urgency Perception Scale (UPS), Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and Primary Overactive Symptom Questionnaire (POSQ), and voiding diaries (P > 0.05). In UDS, there were no statistically significant altered parameters, except maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) and maximum urethral pressure (MUP). After treatment, the mean MUCP was increased from 52.2 ± 6.8 to 73.0 ± 5.4 cmH(2) O (P < 0.05), and the mean MUP was increased from 48.6 ± 7.3 to 70.2 ± 5.0 cmH(2) O (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:
MPH can be a viable option for the primary treatment of GI, and it may be related to increasing urethral closure pressure. It was not possible to establish if a relationship between GI and detrusor overactivity exists.

Sher PK, Reinberg Y. Successful treatment of giggle incontinence with methylphenidate. J Urol. 1996 Aug;156(2 Pt 2):656-8.

Abstract
PURPOSE:
Giggle incontinence, the second most common type of childhood enuresis unrelated to disease, is notoriously difficult to treat. However, the association of laughter or emotion precipitated alteration of muscle tone is suggestive of a functional relationship to cataplexy, a part of the narcoleptic syndrome complex that may respond to stimulant medication.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Two boys and 5 girls (mean age 10.9 years) with giggle incontinence, a positive family history of giggle incontinence (4 patients) and no evidence of urological disease were treated with methylphenidate for 1 to 5 years.

RESULTS:
All patients responded positively with complete cessation of enuresis to varying dose schedules of methylphenidate.

CONCLUSIONS:
These results suggest that giggle incontinence is a centrally mediated and likely hereditary disorder that may share a common pathophysiological basis with the narcolepsy/cataplexy syndrome.

Sher PK. Successful treatment of giggle incontinence with methylphenidate. Pediatr Neurol. 1994 Feb;10(1):81. (no abstract)

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