[EFFECTS OF COMBINATION THERAPY WITH VIBEGRON FOR ANTICHOLINERGIC-RESISTANT PEDIATRIC NEUROGENIC BLADDER]

(Objective) We report the effectiveness of combination therapy with vibegron in pediatric patients with neurogenic bladder inadequately responding to anticholinergic agents. (Subjects and methods) This retrospective study involved 13 pediatric patients with neurogenic bladder treated with anticholinergics at our department from November 2019 to January 2021 who had an inadequate response and received combination therapy with vibegron. Changes in the volume of urinary incontinence before and after the use of vibegron reported during interviews from the 13 patients were compared. In addition, bladder capacity at the end of examination, bladder capacity at the end of examination/expected bladder capacity (EBC), and bladder compliance were compared using the Wilcoxon signed rank test in 9 patients for whom urodynamics (UDS) or video urodynamics (VUDS) was performed before and after introduction of vibegron. (Results) The 13 patients comprised 8 boys and 5 girls. The median age was 13 years (range, 5-18 years). Underlying diseases included 9 cases of spina bifida, 1 case of Hinman syndrome, 1 case of cervical vertebra injury, 1 case of idiopathic cervical epidural hematoma combined with spina bifida, and 1 case of spinal cord infarction. Eight of the 13 patients experienced decrease in urinary incontinence after the introduction of vibegron. All 9 patients who underwent UDS or VUDS before and after introduction of vibegron displayed significant differences in bladder capacity at the end of the examination, bladder capacity at the end of the examination/EBC, and bladder compliance, indicating improvement. (Conclusion) Combination therapy with vibegron is effective for pediatric patients with neurogenic bladder who have inadequately responded to anticholinergic agents.