To investigate the effect of low-dose human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) administration on structural changes in the lower urinary tract in boys with urinary incontinence in the setting of bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC).

We prospectively evaluated 30 patients (median age 7.5 years) with BEEC and randomly divided them into 2 groups. Patients in the HCG group were administered 250 IU HCG intramuscularly 3 times per week during a 4-week period. The other 15 patients served as the control group. The patients were followed up for a mean duration of 4 years. Incontinence rate, hormonal changes, penile length, prostate size, and bladder capacity were evaluated using 3D sonography or pelvic magnetic resonance imaging and uroflowmetry studies before and after HCG administration.

The incontinence score improvement was significantly higher in the HCG group (P = .01). A significant increase was detected in the health-related quality of life score of both patients and parents at the final follow-up (P < .001). The total prostate size (P < .0001) and bladder capacity (P < .0001) increased significantly in all patients of the HCG group. Basal serum testosterone level increased significantly after the first (P = .001) and last (P < .001) injections with no significant increase 3 months after the last injection (P > .05). No major side effect was found following the administration of HCG, with no need for open surgical bladder neck reconstruction.

Our preliminary results suggest the role of low-dose HCG in boys with BEEC suffering from urinary incontinence. The data also reveal the role of prostate enlargement in the improvement of urinary incontinence. Chronic treatment with HCG increases bladder capacity that may facilitate future reconstructive surgery.