Initial Experience with Mirabegron for the Treatment of Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction

Background: Though anticholinergic drugs are considered the standard treatment for neurogenic detrusor overactivity, it is far from an ideal tool, because of their adverse effects such as Constipation or not respond sufficiently for a substantial proportion of patients. Recently mirabegron has become a commonly used overactive bladder medication in the general population, but few studies about mirabegron for the treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mirabegron for the treatment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. Study Design: Prospective study. Methods: This prospective study included 13 adult patients with neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction as a result of spinal cord injury. All patients receiving mirabegron treatment (50 mg once daily) at least 6 weeks. The effective outcomes included the mean urine volume per catheterization, urinary incontinence episodes and Incontinence Specific Quality of Life Instrument. We monitored the blood pressure and heart rate to assess the cardiovascular safety, other adverse events were also recorded. Results: A total of 13 patients were included. After 6 weeks of treatment, all patients experienced a significant increase in the mean volume of per catheterization from 238.46 ± 65.43 ml to 327.69 ± 59.04 ml (p = 0.001). There is a significant reduction in the volume of urine leakage (463.85 ± 247.98 ml VS 180.00 ± 190.96 ml, p = 0.003) and incontinence episodes per 24 h (4.46 ± 2.03 VS 1.92 ± 1.50, p = 0.001). Significant improvement in mean Incontinence Specific Quality of Life Instrument was also found (p = 0.001). No patients reported dry mouth during the study, and the cardiovascular safety were acceptable. Conclusion: Mirabegron is safe and effective in the treatment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction. It might be a good choice for reducing the cessation of clean intermittent catheterization.

Tanshinone ⅡA improves functional recovery in spinal cord injury-induced lower urinary tract dysfunction

Tanshinone ⅡA, extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, exerts neuroprotective effects through its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and anti-apoptotic properties. This study intravenously injected tanshinone ⅡA 20 mg/kg into rat models of spinal cord injury for 7 consecutive days. Results showed that tanshinone ⅡA could reduce the inflammation, edema as well as compensatory thickening of the bladder tissue, improve urodynamic parameters, attenuate secondary injury, and promote spinal cord regeneration. The number of hypertrophic and apoptotic dorsal root ganglion（L6–S1） cells was less after treatment with tanshinone ⅡA. The effects of tanshinone ⅡA were similar to intravenous injection of 30 mg/kg methylprednisolone. These findings suggested that tanshinone ⅡA improved functional recovery after spinal cord injury-induced lower urinary tract dysfunction by remodeling the spinal pathway involved in lower urinary tract control.

Survey of spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder studies using the Web of Science

OBJECTIVE：To identify global trends in research on spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder, through a bibliometric analysis using the Web of Science. DATA RETRIEVAL：We performed a bibliometric analysis of studies on spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder using the Web of Science.Data retrieval was performed using key words＂spinal cord injury＂,＂spinal injury＂,＂neurogenic bladder＂,＂neuropathic bladder＂,＂neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction＂,＂neurogenic voiding dysfunction＂,＂neurogenic urination disorder＂and ＂neurogenic vesicourethral dysfunction＂. SELECTION CRITERIA：Inclusion criteria：（a）published peer-reviewed articles on spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder indexed in the Web of Science;（b）type of articles：original research articles and reviews;（c）year of publication：no limitation.Exclusion criteria：（a）articles that required manual searching or telephone access;（b）Corrected papers and book chapters. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES：（1）Annual publication output;（2）distribution according to journals; （3）distribution according to subject areas;（4）distribution according to country;（5）distribution according to institution;and（6）top cited publications. RESULTS：There were 646 research articles addressing spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder in the Web of Science.Research on spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder was found in the Science Citation Index-Expanded as of 1946.The United States,Ireland and Switzerland were the three major countries contributing to studies in spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder in the 1970s.However,in the 1990s,the United States,the United Kingdom,the Netherlands,Germany and Japan published more papers on spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder than Switzerland,and Ireland fell off the top ten countries list.In this century,the United States ranks first in spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder studies,followed by France,the United Kingdom,Germany,Switzerland and Japan.Subject categories including urology, nephrology and clinical neurology,as well as rehabilitation,are represented in spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder studies. CONCLUSION：From our analysis of the literature and research trends,we conclude that spinal cord injury-induced neurogenic bladder is a hot topic that will continue to generate considerable research interest in the future.

Evaluation, treatment, and surveillance of neurogenic detrusor overactivity in spinal cord injury patients

Neurogenic detrusor overactivity is a common urodynamic finding in patients with supra-sacral spinal cord injury. Early evaluation, stepped management, and close follow-up reduce the risk of upper urinary tract deterioration, renal failure and incontinence. In this article, we aim to outline the modern pathway of the management of this complex disease. Evaluation of patients with history, physical examination, renal function assessment, cystoscopy, and urodynamic study are essential. Management of neurogenic detrusor overactivity with adequate bladder drainage, medical therapy, intradetrusor botulinum injections, and surgery can be offered in a stepwise manner. Follow-up after specific interventions should be done in a timely fashion to detect treatment response and to avoid complications of poorly managed neurogenic detrusor overactivity.