Can bladder fibrosis in congenital urinary tract obstruction be reversed?

ABSTRACT

A variety of conditions exists in adults and children in which functional or anatomical urinary tract obstructions cause bladder fibrosis, which reduces the bladder's ability to store and empty urine. Current surgical procedures include removal of the obstructions to facilitate bladder emptying or prompt prenatal or postnatal spinal closure to prevent further neurogenic damage. Bladder fibrosis may occur, and it can get worse if a flow hindrance persists or deteriorates. Anti-fibrotic therapeutic strategies that target a variety of factors have been developed in animal models, but currently there are no anti-fibrotic therapies available for clinical use. This review examines the pathogenesis of bladder fibrosis that is caused by congenital obstructions of the lower urinary tract, and it focuses on the principal signalling factors and potential treatment modalities.