Serum C-reactive protein level is not associated with prostatic inflammation but with overactive detrusor in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

AIM: Chronic prostatic inflammation is a critical factor that exacerbates lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level is one of the most common markers with which to assess the degree of inflammation, and it has been reported to be related to the severity of LUTS. However, it is not clear whether the CRP level is linked to the magnitude of prostatic inflammation. We evaluated the relationship between the serum CRP level and the magnitude of prostatic inflammation and assessed the influence of CRP on the severity of LUTS. METHODS: We evaluated the tissue specimens of 121 benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients who underwent surgery for BPH and preoperative measurement of the serum CRP level. We quantified the magnitude of prostatic inflammation histologically by determining the number of high endothelial venule (HEV)-like vessels and assessed the relationship between the serum CRP level and the HEV-like vessels. We divided the patients into two groups based on the median serum CRP level and compared the clinical parameters of the two groups. RESULTS: The serum CRP level was correlated with the overactive bladder symptom score, whereas it was not correlated with the number of HEV-like vessels. In filling cystometry and pressure-flow study, the proportion of patients with detrusor overactivity in the higher-CRP group was higher than that in the lower-CRP group. CONCLUSIONS: Our present study showed that the serum CRP level was significantly associated with storage dysfunction; in contrast, it was not a surrogate marker of prostatic inflammation.

Success rate and patients' satisfaction following intradetrusor dysport injection in patients with detrusor overactivity: a comparative study of idiopathic and neurogenic types of detrusor overactivity.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of intradetrusor Dysport (a type of botulinum toxin type A) injection in patients with idiopathic or neurogenic detrusor overactivity, who were refractory to antimuscarinic drugs, and to compare the efficacy of Dysport injection in both groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twelve patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and 18 patients with idiopathic detrusor overactivity (IDO) participated in this study. All the patients received intravesical injection of 500 units of Dysport. They were followed up for 3 months after injection with maximum cystometric capacity, maximum detrusor filling pressure, and number of catheterization or pad usage. RESULTS: After 3 months, the mean maximum cystometric capacity increased from 109.36 ± 24.11 mL to 266.81 ± 97.18 mL (P = .000) in the NDO group and from 192.24 ± 36.21 mL to 272.61 ± 63.37 mL (P = .000) in the IDO group. The mean maximum detrusor filling pressure decreased from 48.14 ± 26.51 cmH2O to 28.91 ± 9.01 cmH2O (P = .005) in the NDO group and from 39.22 ± 9.92 cmH2O to 29.64 ± 10.14 cmH2O (P = .003) in the IDO group. CONCLUSION: Intradetrusor Dysport injection improved urodynamic parameters and quality of life (QoL) in both groups significantly. We did not find significant difference in QoL or urodynamic parameters between both groups.

Oxybutynin and tolterodine for treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity: a pharmacoeconomic evaluation in the Brazilian context

Antimuscarinic agents are the first-line choice for the treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO). The currently available antimuscarinic drugs have been widely studied in patients presenting idiopathic detrusor overactivity; however, investigations evaluating the effects of these drugs on NDO are scant, particularly with regard to cost-effectiveness analyses. A pharmacoeconomic evaluation was performed to compare the costs and effectiveness of oxybutynin and tolterodine in two different formulations, extended (ER) and immediate-release (IR), for the treatment of NDO (based on Brazilian maximal consumer price index). A systematic review of literature was conducted in order to obtain significant clinical and urodynamic data (based on expert opinion), concerning the effects of these drugs in the neurogenic population. Furthermore, a pharmacoeconomic evaluation was performed and costs involved were calculated based on percentage effectiveness obtained for the timeframes of one month and of one year. The best cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) was observed with oxybutynin IR for the urodynamic parameters. In terms of clinical parameters, oxybutynin IR and ER showed the best CER. Based on the key urological parameters analyzed, oxybutynin IR was considered the most cost-effective antimuscarinic agent.

A terapia antimuscarínica é vista como primeira escolha para o tratamento da hiperatividade detrusora de origem neurológica (HDON). No entanto, a maioria dos antimuscarínicos existentes é amplamente estudada em pacientes portadores de hiperatividade detrusora idiopática. Assim, existe escassez de pesquisas que avaliam esses fármacos na problemática da HDON, principalmente em termos de estudos de custo-efetividade. Diante isso, um estudo farmacoeconômico foi realizado (baseado no índice de preço máximo ao consumidor) para comparar os custos e a efetividade da oxibutinina e da tolterodina, em duas diferentes formulações, cápsulas de liberação imediata (LI) e controlada (LC), para o tratamento da HDON. Uma revisão sistemática da literatura foi conduzida para obtenção de dados urodinâmicos e clínicos relevantes (baseado em opinião de especialistas), quanto aos efeitos desses fármacos em pacientes com distúrbios urológicos de origem neurológica. Após essa etapa, um estudo farmacoeconômico foi conduzido e os custos envolvidos foram calculados sobre cada percentual de efetividade obtido, num horizonte temporal de 1 mês e 1 ano. A melhor razão de custo-efetividade (RCE) quanto aos parâmetros urodinâmicos foi obtida com uso de oxibutinina LI. Quantos aos parâmetros clínicos, oxibutinina LI e LC tiveram as melhores RCE. Baseando-se nos principais parâmetros urológicos analisados, oxibutinina LI foi considerada o antimuscarínico mais custo-efetivo.

[New insights in the differential diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome]. / Neue Erkenntnisse zur Differenzialdiagnostik des Bladder-Pain-Syndroms.

The diagnosis of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is challenging, since pathogenetic mechanisms and the definition of clinical relevant parameters are still under lively discussion. The criteria recently proposed by the European Society for the Study of Interstitial Cystitis (ESSIC) define a collective of patients based on the cardinal symptom of bladder pain which is heterogeneous, and therefore cannot receive standardised consistent therapy. Thus an extended diagnosis based on molecular markers seems to be indicated to render individual pharmacotherapy possible, and to contribute to elucidation of BPS/IC pathogenesis. For this purpose we feel the vital need for taking a bladder biopsy. The diagnosis of BPS/IC should rely on 3 "columns": (1) clinical diagnostics; (2) histopathology; (3) molecular diagnostics/protein expression. Since a significant contribution of the 3 functional units of the bladder to the pathophysiology is most evident, the examinations should ideally include urothelium, lamina propria, and detrusor musculature. Generation of receptor profiles of the detrusor muscle represents a first attempt to define a diagnostic tool for the individualisation of BPS/IC pharmacotherapy. Other factors, e.g., beta-hCG expression in the urothelium, need further evaluation. Extended BPS/IC diagnostics could be realistically integrated into routine patient care within a clinic/laboratory network.

Pain during ice water test distinguishes clinical bladder hypersensitivity from overactivity disorders.

BACKGROUND: The Bladder cooling reflex (BCR) i.e. uninhibited detrusor contractions evoked by intravesical instillation of cold saline, is a segmental reflex believed to be triggered by menthol sensitive cold receptors in the bladder wall, with the afferent signals transmitted by C fibres. The BCR is a neonatal reflex that becomes suppressed by descending signals from higher centres at approximately the time when the child gains full voluntary control of voiding. It re-emerges in adults with neurogenic detrusor overactivity as a consequence of loss of central descending inhibition, resulting from conditions such as spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis. We have recently shown an increase of nerve fibres expressing the cool and menthol receptor TRPM8 in both overactive (IDO) and painful bladder syndrome (PBS), but its functional significance is unknown. We have therefore studied the bladder cooling reflex and associated sensory symptoms in patients with PBS and overactivity disorders. METHODS: The BCR, elicited by ice water test (IWT) was performed in patients with painful bladder syndrome (PBS, n = 17), idiopathic detrusor overactivity (IDO, n = 22), neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO, n = 4) and stress urinary incontinence (as controls, n = 21). The IWT was performed by intravesical instillation of cold saline (0 - 4 degrees C). A positive IWT was defined as presence of uninhibited detrusor contraction evoked by cold saline, associated with urgency or with fluid expulsion. Patients were asked to report and rate any pain and cold sensation during the test. RESULTS: A positive IWT was observed in IDO (6/22, 27.3%) and NDO (4/4, 100%) patients, but was negative in all control and PBS patients. Thirteen (76.5%) PBS patients reported pain during the IWT, with significantly higher pain scores during ice water instillation compared to the baseline (P = 0.0002), or equivalent amount of bladder filling (100 mls) with saline at room temperature (P = 0.015). None of the control or overactive (NDO/IDO) patients reported any pain during the IWT. CONCLUSION: The BCR in DO may reflect loss of central inhibition, which appears necessary to elicit this reflex; the pain elicited in PBS suggests afferent sensitisation, hence sensory symptoms are evoked but not reflex detrusor contractions. The ice water test may be a useful and simple marker for clinical trials in PBS, particularly for novel selective TRPM8 antagonists.