Botulinum injections may be effective in refractory OAB

Detrusor botulinum A (BTX-A) toxin injections may be an effective, safe treatment option in patients experiencing overactive bladder (OAB) refractory to other treatments, according to a Swiss study presented yesterday.

One hundred patients with a mean age of 57 years (range 29 to 82 years) who were diagnosed with non-neurogenic OAB and incontinence, and who were previously treated with anticholingerics and physiotherapy received injections of 100 units of BTX-A at 20 sites in the detrusor muscle under cytoscopic control.

Data gathered included urodynamics, neurological status, urine probes and biopsies, and patient diaries before treatment, and patients received both clinical and urodynamic followup 6 to 8 weeks after treatment.

Study author Daniel M. Schmid, Jr., MD, reported that 88% of patients with overactive bladder showed significant (p

"BTX-A appears not only to appears to block neuromuscular transmission of acetylcholine, but it seems also to modulate bladder reflexes," Dr. Schmid concluded.