RESUMO
PURPOSE: Objective of this study is to determine changes in the levels of type I and III collagen in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-nine women were enrolled to this study and e divided into two groups. Forty-four patients with SUI and 5 patients with without SUI for control. All the women were underwent a pre-operative evaluation. The presence of collagen type I and III was determined by immunohistochemical technique. Analysis of staining was studied with help of specialist of pathology with Image Pro computerized program. The student t-test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Collagen type I and III was significantly reduced (p<0.05) in patients with SUI in anterior vaginal wall tissue. compared to patients in control. Both collagen type I and III were marked reduced in the patient of severe grade of stress urinary incontinence. However there were no significant relation between quantity of collagen and other etiological factors including age, parity, grade, and menopausal. CONCLUSION: In this study, women with SUI have less collagen type I and III around the urethra regardless of the degree of pelvic relaxation, SUI grade, parity, menopausal, age. It appears that collagen has a significant role in the maintenance of urinary continence.