Nd:YAG/Er:YAG dual laser compared with topical steroid to treat vulvar lichen sclerosus: A randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of a novel non-ablative Nd:YAG/Er:YAG dual laser treatment for vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) in comparison with the recommended first-line therapy with topical steroid. DESIGN: A randomised investigator-initiated active-controlled trial. SETTING: Single tertiary referral centre. POPULATION: Women with vulvar LS. METHODS: Randomisation (2:1) to Nd:YAG/Er:YAG laser therapy or topical clobetasol proprionate therapy. Four laser treatments at 0, 1, 2 and 4 months or decreasing doses of steroid for 6 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was the change in objective validated clinical LS score in the laser arm between baseline and 6 months. Secondary outcomes were laser tolerability/safety, symptom scores and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: Sixty-six women were included, 44 in the laser group and 22 in the steroid group. The total LS score decreased by -2.34 ± 1.20 (95% CI -2.71 to -1.98) in women treated with laser compared with a decrease of -0.95 ± 0.90 (95% CI -1.35 to -0.56) in those receiving steroid applications (p < 0.001). Laser treatment was safe and well tolerated. Subjective severity scores (on visual analogue scale) and vulvovaginal symptoms questionnaire scores improved similarly for the laser and steroid arms without significant differences between the two treatments. Patient satisfaction was higher in the laser arm than in the steroid arm (p = 0.035). CONCLUSIONS: Non-ablative dual Nd:YAG/Er:YAG laser therapy was safe and significantly improved clinical outcome and subjective symptoms at the 6-month follow up. This suggests that laser may be a promising alternative to corticosteroid therapy. However, the authors caution regular follow ups because of the premalignant nature of the disease.

Nd:YAG/Er:YAG dual laser vs. topical steroid to treat vulvar lichen sclerosus: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Vulvar lichen sclerosus (LS) is a chronic debilitating inflammatory skin disease. Today, the gold standard is a life-long topical steroid treatment. Alternative options are highly desired. We present a study protocol of a prospective, randomized, active-controlled, investigator-initiated clinical trial comparing a novel non-invasive dual Nd:YAG/Er:YAG laser therapy with the gold standard for the management of LS. METHODS: We recruited 66 patients, 44 in the laser arm and 22 in the steroid arm. Patients with a physician-administered clinical LS score ≥ 4 were included. Participants received either four laser treatments 1-2 months apart, or 6 months of topical steroid application. Follow-ups were planned at 6, 12, and 24 months. The primary outcome looks at the efficacy of the laser treatment at the 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes look at comparisons between baseline and follow-ups within the laser or the steroid arm, and comparisons between laser vs. steroid arm. Objective (LS score, histopathology, photo documentation) and subjective (Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire, symptom VAS score, patient satisfaction) measurements, tolerability, and adverse events are evaluated. CONCLUSION: The findings of this trial have the potential to offer a novel treatment option for LS. The standardized Nd:YAG/Er:YAG laser settings and the treatment regime are presented in this paper. CLINICAL TRIAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER: NCT03926299.

Combination therapy with botulinum toxin and bulking agent-An efficient, sustainable, and safe method to treat elderly women with mixed urinary incontinence.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy, sustainability and safety of combined botulinum toxin and polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAHG) therapy to treat urgency and stress components of therapy-refractory mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) in an elderly study population. METHODS: Fifty-five women with therapy-refractory MUI were treated with botulinum toxin and PAHG in one surgical procedure. Urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI) outcomes were separately assessed after 4 and 12 months by objective UUI episodes/24 h and cough test, subjective impact of UUI and SUI on quality of life, and subjective International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF). MUI outcome was calculated by combining UUI and SUI outcomes. Complications were monitored throughout the study. RESULTS: At 4 months, objective cure rates were 73%, 53%, and 42%, and subjective cure rates were 71%, 52%, and 50% for SUI, UUI, and MUI. At 12 months, objective cure rates were 73%, 56%, 50% and subjective cure rates were 78%, 42%, and 40% for SUI, UUI, and MUI. The ICIQ-UI SF score decreased by 9.0 and 8.7 points after 4 and 12 months. All complications were transient and included 22% clean intermittent catheterization immediately after surgery, 33% postvoid residual volumes >100 ml at 14 days, and 13% symptomatic urinary tract infection within the first postoperative month. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of botulinum toxin and PAHG is effective, sustainable and safe to treat therapy-refractory MUI, even in an elderly and frail study population. Patients benefit from the short surgical procedure without the need for general anaesthesia or discontinuation of anticoagulation.

Erbium:YAG laser treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: midterm data.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is treated using intravaginal laser therapy. We wanted to find out how incontinence severity at baseline and the number of laser interventions affect success rate, and whether the effect of laser therapy was obvious 6 months and 2 years after the last laser intervention. METHODS: Fifty-nine women, 32 with SUI I, 16 with SUI II, and 11 with SUI III were treated using an erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Er:YAG) laser following the IncontiLase® protocol. Therapy included five laser sessions with a 1-month interval between sessions. Objective (1-h pad test) and subjective data (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form [ICIQ-UI SF], Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire [PISQ-12]) were assessed at baseline, after two and four laser sessions and 6 months and 2 years after the fifth laser session. RESULTS: Objective cure/improve rates for mild SUI I were 69%, 78%, 91%, and 78% after two, four, and five laser sessions at the 6-month and 2-year follow-ups. Subjective cure rates (ICIQ-UI SF) were 53%, 69%, 72%, and 66%, and sexual function (PISQ-12) also improved. For SUI II, objective cure/improve rates were 31%, 63%, 69%, and 50%. Subjective cure rate was 13% at the 2-year follow-up. For SUI III, only one patient had an objective improvement after two and four laser sessions. CONCLUSIONS: Intravaginal laser therapy led to cure/improvement for SUI I and SUI II, but not for severe SUI III. Outcome was better after four to five laser sessions than after two laser sessions. Follow-up data 6 months and 2 years after laser intervention showed sustainability of the treatment.

[Acute and recurrent urinary tract infections in women presenting in primary practice]. / Akute und rezidivierende Harnwegsinfekte der Frau in der allgemeinmedizinischen Praxis.

Acute and recurrent urinary tract infections in women presenting in primary practice Abstract. Acute and recurrent urinary tract infections in women of all age groups are becoming an increasing problem in primary care and medical practice. Symptoms can be relieved by a guideline-oriented acute therapy and a multimodal infection prophylaxis. The restoration of the body's natural defence mechanisms plays a central role. This article informs about the causes, the basic diagnostic examinations and the practical use of therapeutic and prophylactic measures.

Sensory Hyperinnervation Distinguishes Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis from Overactive Bladder Syndrome.

PURPOSE: Pain is the key symptom that distinguishes bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis from overactive bladder syndrome but overlap occurs. To find a discriminating marker for these bladder diseases we examined sensory hyperinnervation and neurotrophin receptor expression in bladder biopsies as well as nerve growth factor levels in urine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bladder biopsies from patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis, including 12 with and 19 without Hunner lesions, 13 with overactive bladder syndrome and 12 healthy controls, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry with antibodies to the nerve cell marker PGP9.5 (neuron-specific protein gene product 9.5), p75NTR (p75 neurotrophin receptor), the B-lymphocyte marker CD20 and mast cell tryptase. Urinary nerve growth factor was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Subepithelial sensory hyperinnervation on PGP9.5 staining had 97% sensitivity and 76% specificity, increased lymphocytic infiltration had 90% sensitivity and 80% specificity, and urothelial defects had 97% sensitivity and 76% specificity to distinguish bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis with and without Hunner lesions from overactive bladder syndrome and healthy controls. Increased sensory innervation was associated with submucosal mast cell localization. Staining of p75NTR in basal urothelial cells was indicative of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. Urinary nerve growth factor levels were below the detection level and did not differentiate bladder diseases from healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: Sensory hyperinnervation and basal urothelial p75NTR staining together with assessment of inflammatory lymphocytes and urothelial integrity allow for the differentiation of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis and overactive bladder syndrome even in the absence of Hunner lesions. Furthermore, these histopathological criteria enable the identification of early disease stages or oligosymptomatic/asymptomatic cases and may permit timely treatment to prevent disease progress.

Re: Sheng W, Zhang H, Kirschner-Hermanns R. Could urinary nerve growth factor be a biomarker for overactive bladder? A meta-analysis. Neurourol Urodyn. 2017;9999:1-8. doi: 10.1002/nau.23210.

Sheng et al (Neurourology and Urodynamics 2017; DOI: 10.1002/nau.23210) presented a meta-analysis based on 17 publications to show that urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) may be a useful biomarker for overactive bladder syndrome (OAB). Unfortunately, 13 of the 17 studies used an unspecifc enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the Promega NGF Emax Immunoassay, to quantify NGF in urine. This assay did not detect NGF in urine, but other urinary components, such as immunoglobulin G, and in 2014, it was withdrawn from the market. With other NGF-ELISAs, urinary NGF concentrations were found to be below detection level for both, OAB and healthy controls. Currently, ELISA techniques are not sensitive enough to detect NGF in urine, and urinary NGF cannot be used as a biomarker for OAB.

Urethral bulking for recurrent stress urinary incontinence after midurethral sling failure.

AIMS: To assess the effectiveness of a polyacrylamide hydrogel (PAHG; Bulkamid®) in treating recurrent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) following a previous midurethral sling (MUS) implant. METHODS: This observational study, conducted since 2009, included 60 patients with recurrent SUI or mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) after a previous MUS and who chose to be treated with PAHG. Objective and subjective outcomes were assessed at 1, 6, and 12 months after the initial injection. Patients were classified as cured based on a negative cough test (supine and standing) and <2 g urine on 1-hr pad test and a VAS score improved by ≥90%. Improved were those with the loss of only a few drops of urine during the cough test and 2-10 g urine on 1-hr pad test or a reduction >50% compared with preoperative urine loss and a VAS score improved by ≥75%. RESULTS: The volume of PAHG injected in the current study ranged from 1-3 ml. Cured/improved rates were 93.3% (56/60), 88.3% (53/60), and 83.6% (46/55) at 1, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Patients with MUI had a cured urgency urinary incontinence rate of 36.8%, 47.4%, and 38.9%, respectively. Voiding dysfunction rates were 13.3% (8/60), 8.3% (5/60), and 1.8% (1/55) at 1, 6, and 12 months and urinary tract infection rates were 5% (3/60), 11.7% (7/60), and 3.6% (2/55), respectively. Other adverse events were short-term and/or observed in <4% of patients. CONCLUSIONS: PAHG can be used to treat recurrent SUI after MUS failure with good outcome and low complication rates. Neurourol. Urodynam. 36:722-726, 2017. © 2016 The Authors. Neurourology and Urodynamics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Role of intrinsic sphincter deficiency with and without urethral hypomobility on the outcome of tape insertion.

AIMS: Intrinsic sphincter deficiency (ISD) is a known risk factor for therapy failure after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) insertion. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the severity of ISD alone or other factors such as urethral mobility and tape localization influence outcomes. METHODS: One hundred and nine women with urodynamically determined ISD, a TVT insertion, and a 6-month follow-up visit were included. Urethral length, mobility, and tape localization were evaluated by pelvic floor sonography. Patients were classified into three urethral mobility groups (hypomobile, normomobile, hypermobile). Surgical outcome was assessed by a combination of objective and subjective criteria. RESULTS: Therapeutic success rate after TVT insertion was 81.6%. The severity of ISD did not associate with therapy failure. But urethral mobility (P < 0.0001), relative tape position (P = 0.0003), and tape-urethra distance (P < 0.0001) differed between cured and not cured patient groups. Patients with a relative tape position toward 1/2 of urethral length had a higher cure rate. Significantly different cure rates (P = 0.0003) were found for hypomobile (67%), normomobile (76%), and hypermobile (100%) urethras. For ISD patients with a hypomobile urethra, highest cure rates were obtained for tape-urethra distances between 2.5 and 3.5 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced cure rate for ISD patients was due to the subgroup with a hypomobile urethra. A prospective study is needed to confirm that slightly shorter tape-urethra distances and a relative tape position more toward the mid-urethra will lead to better outcomes for this patient group.

Risk factors for emergency caesarean section in planned vaginal breech delivery.

PURPOSE: To identify risk factors for emergency caesarean section in women attempting a vaginal breech delivery at term. METHODS: Data from 1092 breech deliveries performed between 1998 and 2013 at a Swiss cantonal hospital were extracted from an electronic database. Of the 866 women with a singleton, full term pregnancy, 464 planned a vaginal breech delivery. Fifty-seven percent (265/464) were successful in delivering vaginally. Multivariate regression analyses of risk factors were performed, and neonatal and maternal complications were compared. RESULTS: Risk factors for failed vaginal delivery were peridural anaesthesia (OR 2.05; 95 % CI 1.09-3.84; p = 0.025), nulliparity (OR 2.82; 95 % CI 1.87-4.25; p < 0.001), high birth weight (OR 1.17; 95 % CI 1.04-1.30; p = 0.006) and induction of labour (OR 1.56; 95 % CI 1.003-2.44; p = 0.048). Maternal age, height and weight; gestational age; or newborn length and head circumference were not associated with an unplanned caesarean section. The rate of successful vaginal delivery in the low risk sub-group (multiparous women without induction of labour) was 58-83 %, depending on birth weight category. The likelihood of success for the high risk sub-group (nulliparous women with induction of labour) fell below a third at neonatal birth weights >3250 g. Complication rates were low in the cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Use of peridural anaesthesia, nulliparity, high birth weight and induction of labour were risk factors for unsuccessful vaginal breech delivery requiring an unplanned caesarean section. Awareness of these risk factors is useful when counselling women who are considering a vaginal breech delivery.

Are mast cells still good biomarkers for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis?

PURPOSE: ESSIC identifies mast cell infiltrates of detrusor muscle as a diagnostic criterion for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. However, an increased mast cell count is also characteristic of overactive bladder syndrome. The lack of uniformity in mast cell detection methods hampers data comparison. Using state-of-the-art techniques we investigated whether mast cells differ among bladder conditions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed bladder biopsies from 56 patients, including 31 with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis with (12) or without (19) Hunner lesions, 13 with overactive bladder syndrome and 12 without bladder symptoms to determine the quantity, location, distribution and activation of mast cells using immunohistochemistry with anti-mast cell tryptase. Patients were allocated to study groups by key bladder symptoms commonly used to define conditions (pain and major urgency). RESULTS: Subepithelial mast cell localization (p <0.001) and an increased detrusor mast cell count (p = 0.029) were characteristic of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis with Hunner lesions. The optimal cutoff of 32 detrusor mast cells per mm(2) achieved only 68% accuracy with 38% positive predictive value. No difference was observed between bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis without Hunner lesions and overactive bladder syndrome. Patient groups differed in lymphocyte infiltration (p = 0.001), nodular lymphocyte aggregates (p <0.001) and urothelium integrity (p <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Subepithelial mast cell distribution was characteristic of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis with Hunner lesions. Detrusor mastocytosis had poor predictive value for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. Mast cell assessment did not distinguish bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis without Hunner lesions from overactive bladder syndrome.

Do different vaginal tapes need different suburethral incisions? The one-half rule.

AIM: Despite a wide array of vaginal tapes to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI), evidence suggesting that both patient characteristics and tape positioning influence outcomes, and differing tape insertion pathways (retropubic vs. transobturator), it remains unclear if the same incision location is effective for all tapes. The aim of the study was to compare outcomes using two different surgical incision locations when inserting a transobturator vaginal tape (TOT) to treat SUI. METHODS: We compared patient characteristics, tape positioning, and surgical outcomes in 123 women undergoing a TOT procedure who were randomly assigned to have the surgical incision begin at 1/3 of the sonographically-measured urethral length (similar to the traditional retropubic approach) or 1/2 of the urethral length. RESULTS: It was feasible to place the tape according to intention in 99.2% of the study cohort. The overall cure rate was higher when the incision site began at 1/2 the urethral length (83.6%) than 1/3 (62.9%) (P = 0.01). In the subgroup analyses, only patients with normal urethral mobility had significantly different cure rates (85.7% vs. 55.2%, P = 0.02). No significant differences in cure rates were observed between the other mobility categories of the study groups-hypermobility was consistently associated with high cure rates and hypomobility with low cure rates. CONCLUSIONS: When surgically treating SUI with a TOT, incision at the mid-urethra using the 1/2 rule is recommended as it leads to better outcomes for most patients, particularly those with normal urethral mobility.

Ultrasound and early tape mobilization--a practical solution for treating postoperative voiding dysfunction.

AIMS: This study assessed the effectiveness of ultrasound in determining tape distance to urethra and the impact of early tape mobilization on outcomes in women with postoperative voiding dysfunction resulting from a too tightly positioned tension-free vaginal tape (TVT). METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted with women experiencing voiding dysfunction caused by too tightly positioned tapes. Ultrasound was used to identify the cause of the dysfunction and measure the distance between tape and longitudinal smooth muscle layer (LSM) of the urethra. If the tape was too close to the LSM (<3 mm) and the residual volume was >100 ml, it was mobilized under local/analgosedation shortly after the initial TVT procedure. RESULTS: Seventy-one postoperative TVT mobilization procedures were conducted on 61 women, which was 4.1% (61/1501) of all suburethral tape procedures performed. Early tape mobilization restored normal micturition in 59 (96.7%) of the women at the time of discharge. Significant differences were found in residual volumes (P < 0.001) and tape-LSM distances (P < 0.001) pre- and post-mobilization. At 6-month follow-up visits, 58 (95.1%) women were cured of SUI, three were incontinent, and no additional voiding dysfunction occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate postoperative ultrasound can reliably detect too tightly positioned tapes that can be promptly treated with tape mobilization, a short and safe procedure that does not compromise the outcome of the original procedure.

Bladder perforation after TVT-Secur procedure: how secure is TVT-Secur?

BACKGROUND: A rare but challenging complication of midurethral tape procedures is perforation of the tape through the bladder wall. CASES: We saw three patients in whom unrecognized bladder perforation during TVT-Secur procedures occurred. It took an average follow-up time of 11 months before the bladder perforations were identified by introital ultrasound. Complete excision of the mesh was achieved endoscopically (TURP resectoscope) and/or by traditional vaginal tape removal techniques. Following tape removal, there has been no recurrence of urinary tract infections, and the irritative voiding symptoms have resolved in all three cases. CONCLUSIONS: Bladder perforation after mini-sling procedures can be managed using a combined transurethral/vaginal approach. This technique is minimally invasive, safe, and successful. Careful introital ultrasound should be performed in patients presenting with new lower urinary tract symptoms after sling surgery to avoid delays in diagnosing bladder perforation.

Current Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence by Bulking Agents and Laser Therapy-An Update.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects around 20% of women. In addition to the established suburethral sling insertion, two less invasive approaches are of interest today: urethral bulking agents and vaginal laser therapy. This review discusses articles through December 2023 identified by a PubMed literature search using the keywords "incontinence" and "bulking" or "laser". Although the two approaches are less effective than sling insertions, there are specific conditions in which one or the other technique is more advantageous. Injecting bulking agents into the urethra only takes some minutes and works without general anesthesia. The method is particularly suited for elderly, frail, or obese patients with multiple comorbidities, but is also applicable for all patients and in combination with other therapies. Generally, the safety profile is good but differs between bulking materials. Two laser types-the Erbium:YAG laser with SMOOTH-mode and the fractional ablative CO2 laser-deliver heat into the tissue to induce tissue tightening and regeneration. Intravaginal laser therapy improves mild to moderate SUI, while studies describe how intraurethral laser therapy is also beneficial for severe SUI. Young women between childbirths, as well as postmenopausal women, may benefit from laser therapy. The method is safe, can be performed on an outpatient basis, and does not require any artificial material.

Vaginal erbium laser treatment for stress urinary incontinence: A multicenter randomized sham-controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of non-ablative vaginal Er:YAG laser device in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treatment. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter blinded randomized sham-controlled trial in which women with urodynamic SUI were randomization to active arm using Er:YAG laser therapy, and sham arm using sham handpiece. Patients received two treatments 1 month apart. The primary outcomes measure was 1 h pad weight test measured at 6 months. Secondary outcomes were durability of treatment success at 12 months, and questionnaires for assessment of SUI severity (ICIQ-UI SF), sexual function (PISQ-12) and HRQoL (KHQ), and incidence and severity of device related adverse events and pain (VAS). RESULTS: A total of 110 participants with SUI were recruited; 73 in the active arm and 37 in the sham arm. Two participants were excluded; one was assigned the wrong treatment and one withdrew their consent. Treatment success was observed in 36% of the sham arm and 59% of the active arm; in the latter, odds of achieving treatment success were more than three-fold higher (OR 3.63, 95% CI: 1.3-11.2, P = 0.02). HRQoL by KHQ showed significant improvement in the active versus the sham arm (OR 0.36, 95% CI: 0.15-0.87, P = 0.003). Similarly, subjective patient assessment of general and sexual function improvement with PISQ-12 and PGI-I showed superior effect over sham (OR 2.8, 95% CI: 1.2-7.0, P = 0.02 and OR 0.13, 95% CI: 0.05-0.36, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Non-ablative vaginal Er:YAG laser therapy significantly improves SUI symptoms versus sham treatment. Er:YAG laser therapy should be considered as a non-surgical treatment option for SUI patients.

Midurethral sling incision: indications and outcomes.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Controversy continues over the effectiveness of sling incision, which is the most common operative approach to treating complications following suburethral sling insertion. This retrospective analysis assessed the indications for sling incision and patient outcomes regarding resolution of complications and stress urinary incontinence. METHODS: A review was conducted of the medical records of women who underwent sling incision between 2003 and 2010. Data such as surgical indications, ultrasound findings and medical outcomes were extracted from 198 records, and descriptive and inferential statistical methods of analysis were used. RESULTS: In the 198 patients eligible for study inclusion, the primary reasons for sling incision were overactive bladder (68 %), voiding dysfunction (61 %), and recurrent urinary tract infections (53 %). Additional complications included dyspareunia (18 %), chronic pelvic pain (17 %), and sling exposure (15 %). Sling incision led to immediate postoperative cure of voiding dysfunction in 97 % of patients. Cure rates for overactive bladder and dyspareunia were 60 % and 94 % respectively. Chronic pelvic pain was resolved in 82 % of cases and all cases of sling exposure were cured. Eighty-five (61 %) of the 140 patients who were continent before sling incision developed recurrent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that sling incision can be highly successful in improving voiding dysfunction and dyspareunia, and moderately successful in curing overactive bladder and chronic pain. However, SUI may recur in more than 60 % of the patients undergoing sling incision. Consequently, patients being considered for a sling incision procedure should be informed about this possible complication.

Local immune response in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis ESSIC type 3C.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) is identified based on subjective symptoms which lead to heterogeneous patient populations. Previous studies using gene expression arrays for BPS/IC with Hunner's lesions [European Society for the Study of Interstitial Cystitis (ESSIC) type 3C], a subtype of the condition discernible by cystoscopy, have revealed characteristic immune responses and urothelial abnormalities. This current study aimed to further characterize this subtype using a gene expression panel. We hypothesized that B-cell activation with high levels of urinary antibody concentration would be found. METHODS: Cold-cup bladder biopsies, catheterized urine and blood were collected from 15 BPS/IC ESSIC type 3C patients, 11 non-inflammatory overactive bladder (OAB) patients and eight healthy controls. Gene expression in biopsies was quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), immunohistochemistry was performed on bladder tissue and urinary immunoglobulins G and A were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analyses included the Kruskal-Wallis test for non-parametric data and post hoc tests identified differences between groups. RESULTS: High expression of T- and B-cell markers (CTLA4, CD20, CD79A, IGH@), low expression of urothelial markers (KRT20, UPK1B, UPK3A), focal lymphoid aggregates in the submucosa and high immunoglobulin concentration in urine were found exclusively in BPS/IC ESSIC type 3C patients. Results for OAB were in intermediate ranges between the other two groups and UPK1B even reached significantly lower expression when compared to healthy controls. CONCLUSIONS: BPS/IC ESSIC type 3C is characterized by a local adaptive immune response with elevated urinary antibody concentrations. Quantification of urinary immunoglobulin levels could be used for a non-invasive diagnosis of BPS/IC ESSIC type 3C.