title: NGF and HB-EGF: potential biomarkers that reflect the effects of fesoterodine in patients with overactive bladder syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF) can be used to objectively assess overactive bladder syndrome (OAB) treatment outcome and to evaluate the effects of fixed-dose fesoterodine on OAB symptoms.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 124 participants (62 patients with OAB and 62 controls) in Severance Hospital between 2010 and 2012. In patients with OAB, 4 mg fesoterodine was administered once daily. Repeated evaluations of putative biomarker levels, urine creatinine (Cr) levels, and questionnaire responses, including the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) and the Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB q), were performed from baseline to 16 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urinary levels of NGF/Cr (OAB: 1.13±0.9 pg/mg; control: 0.5±0.29 pg/mg) and HB-EGF/Cr (OAB: 8.73±6.55 pg/mg; control: 4.45±2.93 pg/mg) were significantly higher in subjects with OAB than in controls (p<0.001). After 16 weeks of fixed-dose fesoterodine treatment, urinary NGF/Cr levels (baseline: 1.13±0.08 pg/mg; 16 weeks: 0.60±0.4 pg/mg; p=0.02) and HB-EGF/Cr levels significantly decreased (baseline: 8.73±6.55 pg/mg; 16 weeks: 4.72±2.69 pg/mg; p=0.03, respectively). Both the OABSS and OAB q scores improved (p<0.001). However, there were no a statistically significant correlations between these urinary markers and symptomatic scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary levels of NGF and HB-EGF may be potential biomarkers for evaluating outcome of OAB treatment. Fixed-dose fesoterodine improved OAB symptoms. Future studies are needed to further examine the significance of urinary NGF and HB-EGF levels as therapeutic markers for OAB.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Incheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Rim
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sei Kwang
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. swbai@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Sang Wook
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Bai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000652:urine*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine*; D014563:Urodynamics
chemical_list: D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D015415:Biomarkers; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor; C526675:fesoterodine; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D003404:Creatinine
keywords: Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor; nerve growth factor; overactive bladder; questionnaire; urinary biomarkers