Future pharmacotherapy in chronic bladder hypersensory conditions

There is a high prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in the adult population, afflicting both genders. LUTS can be thought of as a chronic hypersensory condition of the bladder. The treatment of LUTS remains largely empiric based on incomplete understanding of pathophysiology and lack of clinically effective measurement tools. Future treatments for LUTS can target intrinsic physiologic bladder defects, whether they arise from the urothelium, smooth muscle and/or nerves. The bladder and its different compartments can also have pharmacologic agents delivered in the most direct fashion through transurethral catheterization either via catheter or cystoscope. Non-bacterial-induced bladder inflammation and CNS abnormalities may also give rise to LUTS, thus representing other targets for future pharmacotherapy.