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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
05:25
Ultrasonography of the Adult Male Urinary Tract for Urinary Functional Testing
Published on: August 14, 2019
Urinary Biomarkers and Response to Treatment in Overactive Bladder (OAB): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Thiago Khouri1, Bruna Matos1, Lukas Salles1
1Department of Urology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
Neurourology and Urodynamics
|June 19, 2026
Summary
Urinary biomarkers, like nerve growth factor (NGF), show promise for monitoring overactive bladder (OAB) treatment. Reductions in NGF correlate with symptom improvement, aiding in treatment response assessment.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Biomarker Research
- Clinical Diagnostics
Background:
- Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common condition lacking objective diagnostic methods.
- Urinary biomarkers, especially nerve growth factor (NGF), are being investigated for OAB diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
- Current diagnostic approaches for OAB rely heavily on symptom-based assessments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the association between urinary biomarkers and treatment response in adults with OAB.
- To evaluate the correlation between urinary biomarker changes and symptom score modifications following OAB treatment.
- To assess the potential of urinary biomarkers as objective tools in OAB management.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted across eight databases up to May 2024.
- Prospective clinical studies linking urinary biomarkers to OAB treatments were selected based on predefined criteria.
- Meta-analysis was specifically performed for nerve growth factor (NGF) data; other biomarkers were synthesized as percentage mean changes.
Main Results:
- Nine studies provided data on urinary nerve growth factor (NGF).
- Post-treatment reductions in urinary biomarkers were observed in both responders and non-responders.
- Greater decreases in NGF and larger improvements in symptom scores were noted in treatment responders.
Conclusions:
- The utility of urinary biomarkers for OAB patients remains heterogeneous and requires further investigation.
- Decreasing urinary NGF levels during OAB treatment correlate with improved symptom scores.
- Urinary biomarkers, including NGF, may serve as valuable tools for monitoring treatment response and differentiating OAB phenotypes, especially when symptom questionnaires are unreliable.
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