Bladder dysfunction and parkinsonism: current pathophysiological understanding and management strategies.

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) commonly develop lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) as their disease severity progresses. It is a well-established fact that neurodegeneration of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway occurs in PD. This neurochemical deficiency explains many of the motor disturbances encountered in patients with PD. However, the underlying cause of urinary dysfunction present in over half of patients with PD is poorly understood. Without clearly understanding the underlying pathophysiological and neurochemical mechanisms of LUTS associated with PD, treatment strategies are mainly empirical in nature. This review presents the most recent studies and evidence on the pathophysiological mechanisms of PD-related voiding dysfunction and its available therapies.