Botulinum toxin A for the treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity in multiple sclerosis patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) is common in patients who suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS). When the usual pharmacological treatment fails, botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) injections can be proposed. The safety and efficacy of this treatment are already well known, but only a few studies focus on its use in patients with MS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-one patients with MS underwent their first BTX-A injection for refractory NDO. They had clinical and urodynamic cystometry assessment before and three months after injection. The patients were divided in three groups according to treatment efficacy: full success (total urinary continence, no overactive detrusor), improvement, or total failure (urge incontinence and overactive detrusor). RESULTS: 77 percent of the patients had clinical improvement or full success of the treatment with a reduction of their urgency and incontinence. Significant urodynamic improvement after treatment was shown on different parameters: volume at first involuntary bladder contraction (p = 0.0000001), maximum cystometric capacity (p = 0.0035), maximum detrusor pressure (p = 0.0000001). 46 percent of the patients were in the "full success" group. 31 percent of the patients had a partial improvement. 23 percent of the patients had no efficacy of the treatment. Duration of MS was a predictive factor of treatment failure (p = 0.015). CONCLUSIONS: Despite that a full success was obtained in 46 percent of the cases, BTX-A injection therapy failed to treat refractory NDO in 23 percent of patients suffering from MS. Duration of the disease was a predictive factor for an inefficient treatment. The injection therapy should be considered as soon as oral anticholinergic drugs fail to reduce NDO.