Multimodal Biomarker and Ultrasound Profiling in Women with Overactive Bladder: A Prospective Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Biomarkers
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Overactive bladder (OAB) diagnosis relies on symptoms, lacking objective biological markers.
• Current diagnostic methods for OAB are limited in characterizing its underlying biological mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a multimodal biological profile of OAB in women.
• To assess urinary and serum biomarkers alongside ultrasonographic bladder parameters in OAB patients.

Main Methods:

• Prospective case-control study involving 80 women (40 OAB patients, 40 controls).
• Measured urinary and serum BDNF, NGF, and substance P via ELISA.
• Assessed oxidative stress markers and ultrasonographic bladder parameters (wall thickness, detrusor thickness, resistive index).

Main Results:

• Significantly elevated urinary and serum BDNF, NGF, and substance P in OAB patients (p < 0.001).
• Increased ultrasonographic bladder wall parameters observed in OAB patients (p < 0.001).
• Serum NGF and BDNF demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy; urinary substance P and BDNF strongly correlated with symptom severity.

Conclusions:

• Women with OAB show a distinct biological profile involving neurotrophin activation, oxidative stress, and structural bladder changes.
• These findings highlight potential objective markers for OAB diagnosis and characterization.
• External validation in larger cohorts is necessary before clinical application.