Detrusor in ageing and obstruction

It is disputed whether fibrosis of the detrusor is a consequence of obstruction or ageing. In the present study, bladder wall morphology was analyzed semiquantitatively in biopsies from "normal" young persons, infravesically obstructed and non-obstructed elderly persons. Fibrosis occurring around and inside muscle fascicles was demonstrated to the same degree with obstruction as well as ageing. Our results give rise to the question whether "prostatism" is related to obstruction per se or to ageing or both.