[Pittsburgh experience with botulinum toxin A injection]

We report one institution's six-year experience using botulinum toxin A (BONT-A) in the bladder and urethra in 110 patients for a variety of lower urinary tract dysfunction. 110 patients (age 19-82) were injected with BONT-A into the bladder (n=42) or urethra (n=68), 35 M, 75 F. Voiding dysfunction included: neurogenic detrusor overactivity and/or detrusor sphincter dyssynergia, overactive bladder (OAB), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), bladder neck obstruction (BNO) and interstitial cystitis (IC). Currently, 27 patients have undergone further injections (up to 6) at intervals > 6 months. All the patients with bladder BONT-A injection had preoperative evidence of involuntary detrusor contractions during urodynamic testing. Analysis of the 110 patients indicates that 67.3% reported a decrease or absence of incontinence. Diaries indicate a decrease in both day and night voiding symptoms. Efficacy occurred within 7 days and lasted for at least 6 months. Condition specific QOL symptom scores also demonstrated improvement. There have been no long-term complications. Two MS women with mild baseline stress urinary incontinence reported increased leakage with stress after BONT-A external sphincter injection. One MS woman who had a bladder injection had an increased residual urine from 78 to 155 ml. She did not have to perform intermittent catheterization. BONT-A injection is a safe and promising treatment modality for a variety of lower urinary tract dysfunctions for both skeletal and smooth muscle dysfunction. In our series, BONT-A is equally effective in women as it is in men. Bladder injections with BONT-A are effective for not only neurogenic detrusor overactivity but also overactive bladder. BONT-A can even be considered for IC.