Urinary biomarkers profiles in patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity according to their neurological condition.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the disease-specific urinary levels variations of neurotrophins (NGF, BDNF), mediators of inflammation (TGFß-1, PGE-2) and markers of extracellular matrix alterations (TIMP-2) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) spinal cord injury (SCI), or spina bifida (SB), and neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO). METHODS: A prospective single-center study was conducted between March 2015 and March 2017. Patients aged over 18 years old, with neurological disease, with a urodynamic diagnosis of NDO were included. The urinary levels of NGF, BDNF, TIMP-2, PGE 2, and TGF-ß1 were measured using dedicated ELISA kits. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were included 6 with MS, 20 with SCI, and 15 with spina bifida. The average urinary level of NGF/Cr was significantly higher in MS patients compared to other neurologic populations (8 vs. 0.56 vs. 1.25 pg/mg of creatinine; p = 0.001) as well for the average urinary level of BDNF (88.3 vs. 5 vs. 4.8 pg/mg of creatinine; p < 0.0001). SCI patients had a significantly lower level of TGFß-1 than SB patients (p = 0.04). The urinary level of PGE2 was significantly correlated with the Body Mass Index (r = 0.61; p = 0.0002). CONCLUSION: All NDO may not be created equal from the molecular standpoint. Multiple sclerosis patients had higher urinary levels of neurotrophins than in other neurologic populations with NDO. Urinary TGFß-1, a strong determinant of extracellular matrix, was significantly higher in spina bifida patients compared to SCI patients. These findings underscore the importance of using and interpreting those possible urinary markers in a disease-specific fashion.