Pathophysiology of idiopathic overactive bladder and the success of treatment: a systematic review from ICI-RS 2013.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the frequency of phenotype profiling of patients with idiopathic overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome, and to determine the effectiveness of treatment among individuals with different pathophysiologic profiles.


METHODS
The electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and CINAHL were searched from January 1, 1980 to August 12, 2013 for interventional randomized controlled treatment trials (RCTs) of idiopathic OAB. Phenotying for pathophysiologies originating in the urothelial/mucosal layer of the bladder, the detrusor muscle cell layer, and the central nervous system were sought. Articles that analyzed urgency outcomes based on pathophysiologic profiling were selected. Due to the heterogeneity of the included interventions and outcome assessment measures, meta-analysis was not appropriate and a qualitative synthesis was undertaken.


RESULTS
Of 239 original RCTs of idiopathic OAB, 48 (20%) profiled participants on underlying pathophysiology. Less than half of these (n = 20) reported treatment efficacy for urgency symptoms by pathophysiological sub-type. One examined the effect of botulinum A toxin on interstitial cell protein expression. Four compared treatment efficacy in OAB patients with and without involuntary detrusor contractions. Fifteen compared the effect of treatment on urgency reduction in patients with detrusor overactivity. There were no consistent trends in treatment efficacy according to pathophysiologic sub-type. No studies examined urothelial dysfunction or abnormal central processing of bladder afferent signaling in response to treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
In order to advance the field of idiopathic OAB, more trials are needed that profile and test urgency outcomes in participants according to suspected underlying pathophysiology. Neurourol. Urodynam. 33:611-617, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
University Hospitals Case Medical Center and Department of Urology, Urology Institute, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Ann T
AT
Hanna-Mitchell
Mandavi
M
Kashyap
Wilson Ventura
WV
Chan
Karl-Eric
KE
Andersson
Cara
C
Tannenbaum
D001676:Biofeedback, Psychology / Q000379:methods*; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*
D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D009465:Neuromuscular Agents; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A
clinical trials; idiopathic overactive bladder; pathophysiology; systematic review