Multiple bladder diverticula with Williams-Beuren syndrome: a case report

Introduction

Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is an autosomal dominant disorder because of 7q11.23 microdeletion. It occurs in 1:7,500 live births and affects males and females equally (1). Clinically, the final diagnosis of WS requires genetic testing to prove gene deletion in WBSCR (2). The children with WBS are characterized by congenital heart disease, distinctive facies (Elfin-like features), hypercalcemia, connective tissue, abnormalities, growth retardation, intellectual disability, behavior deficits, and a gregarious personality (3,4). It may lead to complications of kidney stones, hypothyroidism, hyperopia and recurrent otitis media. WBS requires multidisciplinary treatment, such as heart care, diet adjustment, calcium level testing and hormone therapy. Children with neurodevelopmental disorders even need screening for vision and hearing (5). Recent studies showed that lower urinary tract symptoms were also frequent in WBS patients (6,7). These studies also showed that lower urinary tract symptoms have a significant negative impact on patients’ quality of life. Multiple bladder diverticula in WBS patients can lead to many lower urinary tract symptoms. The treatment for the lower urinary tract symptoms in WBS patients with multiple bladder diverticula is lacking. Here, we reported a WBS child with multiple bladder diverticula who was treated with desmopressin for nocturnal enuresis. This case showed that desmopressin was still effective in treating nocturnal enuresis in WBS patients for a 4-month treatment.

We present the following article in accordance with the CARE reporting checklist (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tp-20-311).

Case presentation

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee(s) and with the Helsinki Declaration (as revised in 2013). Written informed consent was obtained from the patient.

A 7.6-year-old girl was initially hospitalized with the complaint of urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturnal enuresis (the frequency of bed-wetting was 4–6 nights/week) for four years. The child denied urinary pain or interruption. The child had growth retardation and malnutrition (weight 16.4 kg and height 113 cm). Physical examination showed a grade III ejection systolic murmur at the second intercostal space on the right on the right of the sternum. Laboratory tests revealed that urine testing was regular, without proteinuria and hematuria. Urine electrolyte excretion in 24 hours, blood electrolyte, and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone activity (upright and horizontal) are normal. Blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin are typical. Lumbosacral MRI with T1 and T2 images is normal.

Further, the retrograde urography results showed multiple diverticula of the bladder (Figure 1A,B). Urodynamics results showed an overactive and sensitive bladder, with a decreased bladder volume. Echocardiography results showed supra-aortic stenosis (Figure 1C). The patient had moderate mental retardation with an IQ of 50 by the Wechsler intelligence test. Analysis of multiple ligase probe dependent amplification revealed heterozygous deletion in the elastin gene in the 7q11.23 region of the seventh chromosome, which was consistent with WS. The parents of the child refused to undertake repair surgery of the diverticulum and cardiac surgery. The patient received desmopressin (0.2 mg, qn) and bladder function training. The nocturnal enuresis improved obviously during hospitalization. After four months follow-up, the nocturnal enuresis improved obviously (the frequency of bed-wetting was 1–2 nights/week). In comparison, the symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency did not improve.

Figure 1 Ultrasound and retrograde urography results of the patient. (A) Ultrasound results showed multiple bladder diverticula; (B) retrograde urography results showed multiple bladder diverticula without cystoureteral reflux; (C) echocardiography showing supra-aortic stenosis.

Discussion

WBS is characterized as distinctive facial features, cardiovascular problems (including supravalvular aortic stenosis), hypercalcemia, endocrine problems, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and mild to moderate intellectual disability. Urological abnormalities (including renal ectopia, agenesis, hypoplasia, duplication, horseshoe kidney, hydronephrosis, and vesicoureteral reflux) in patients with WBS were also reported (8,9). Recent studies showed that lower urinary tract symptoms were common in people with WBS (6,7). The most prevalent symptoms are increased urinary frequency, urgency, urge incontinence, and enuresis, which may affect up to 78% of those with WBS (7). Lower urinary tract symptoms seriously affect the quality of life of patients. Sammour et al. showed that oxybutynin could improve lower urinary tract symptoms and the quality of life of patients (10).

To our knowledge, only three articles reported 13 cases of WBS with bladder diverticulum (11-13). In these patients, only one article had reported the detailed baseline characteristics of four patients (11). In these 13 patients, two male adult patients were included (35.4 and 39 years), and a urinary tract infection was reported in three patients. Most patients had symptoms of frequency and nocturnal enuresis. In the four patients, three patients were treated with Oxybutyni and one patient with Hyoscyamine. However, symptoms were no improved in a patient treated with Oxybutyni. In our patient, the child had urinary frequency, urgency, and nocturnal enuresis and was treated with desmopressin.

Desmopressin is an effective drug for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms. A recent meta-analysis showed that desmopressin, combined with an alarm, could effectively treat nocturnal enuresis (14). Desmopressin can also effectively treat nocturnal polyuria. A systematic meta-analysis showed that desmopressin was more effective than a placebo in terms of reduced nocturnal voiding frequency and duration of undisturbed sleep (15). The mechanism of nocturnal enuresis in patients with WBS is still unclear.

However, our case showed that desmopressin was still effective in treating nocturnal enuresis in WBS patients for a 4-month treatment. Although the symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency did not relieve, we surmised it was due to the bladder diverticulum, which had not been treated. Hyponatremia is a severe side effect of desmopressin therapy; serum sodium levels should be closely monitored during treatment (15). Even though this side effect was not observed in this child, it should be closely monitored in subsequent treatment.

Acknowledgments

Funding: None.

Footnote

Reporting Checklist: The authors have completed the CARE reporting checklist. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tp-20-311

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tp-20-311). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee and with the Helsinki Declaration (as revised in 2013). Written informed consent was obtained from the patient.

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