URINARY SYSTEM IN VIBROACOUSTIC DISEASE - CURRENT FINDINGS AND ONGOING STUDIES

摘要

Introduction. Vibroacoustic disease (VAD) is a whole-body pathology caused by excessive exposure to low frequency noise (LFN, <500 Hz, including infrasound). For the past 25 years, LFN-exposed human and animal populations have been under study by this team. The goal of this report is to put forth what is known to date on the implications of LFN-exposure on the urinary system. Methods. Data collected to date on LFN-exposed human and animal models is gathered and presented. Results. Clinically, urinary system complaints are practically non-existent. However, in severe VAD cases, urinary control may become impaired due to autonomic nervous system impairments. Reduction of urinary flow is sometimes mentioned by LFN-exposed workers, but this subsides or disappears altogether when the patient goes on vacation. Urine analysis of individuals exposed to long-term occupational LFN (>10 years of professional activity) disclosed microscopic bleeding and discrete proteinuria. Kidney and bladder cancer are not uncommon in VAD patients. Kidney glomeruli have been studied in LFN-exposed rats. Here, the immediate effect of LFN exposure is cellular tumefaction, or swelling of podocytes. After exposure ceases, podocytes reduce in size but become wrinkled and overlap each other. The number of microvilli increases substantially. Discussion. More studies are urgently required to completely understand the implications of LFN-exposure on the urinary system.