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Updated: Aug 9, 2026
05:25
Ultrasonography of the Adult Male Urinary Tract for Urinary Functional Testing
Published on: August 14, 2019
A prospective controlled quantitative study of ultrastructural changes in the underactive detrusor
R D Brierly1, R G Hindley, E McLarty
1Department of Urology, Royal Sussex County Hospital, East Sussex, United Kingdom.
The Journal of Urology
|March 12, 2003
Summary
Patients with underactive bladders show significantly more disrupted detrusor cells compared to controls. These ultrastructural changes are not age-related and may aid in diagnosing bladder dysfunction.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Cell Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Detrusor underactivity is a common cause of bladder dysfunction.
- Understanding the cellular basis of detrusor underactivity is crucial for diagnosis and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify and compare ultrastructural changes in detrusor biopsies from patients with underactive bladders versus controls.
- To investigate the correlation between these changes and age.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopic examination of detrusor biopsies from 14 underactive and 17 control patients.
- High-power analysis (x12,000-x24,000) of cell morphology.
- Counting disrupted cells per 500 cells in each biopsy.
Main Results:
- All biopsies showed disrupted cell profiles.
- Underactive detrusor group had a median of 96.5 disrupted cells/500, compared to 20 cells/500 in controls (p <0.001).
- No significant correlation was found between age and the number of disruptive cells in the control group.
Conclusions:
- Distinct morphological changes, with approximately four times more disrupted cells, are associated with underactive bladder dysfunction.
- These changes are not solely due to aging.
- Ultrastructural studies may complement urodynamics in diagnosing bladder dysfunction.
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