Which factors predict upper urinary tract deterioration in overactive neurogenic bladder dysfunction?

Objectives: To determine whether bladder histopathologic changes, detrusor leak point pressure (DLPP), disease duration, and preoperative catheterization time can predict for upper urinary tract (UUT) deterioration in patients with overactive neurogenic bladder dysfunction (ONBD).

Methods: A total of 39 patients (7 women and 32 men) with ONBD who were treated with augmentation cystoplasty were included in the study. The patients had undergone perioperative full-thickness bladder biopsies during augmentation cystoplasty. Routine evaluation using light microscopy to investigate for inflammation, fibrosis, and mast cell count was done. Statistical analysis was done using the chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests.

Results: The mean duration of the disease was 8.7 years. Of the 39 patients, 18 (46%) had had indwelling catheters preoperatively. UUT deterioration was found in 16 (41%) of 39 patients. The mean DLPP was 105 cm H2O. The severity of detrusor fibrosis was a significant risk factor for UUT deterioration (P = 0.036). However, the degree of inflammation and the severity of fibrosis did not affect UUT deterioration. A DLPP of more than 75 cm H2O was a statistically significant risk factor (P = 0.04), but the disease duration and preoperative catheterization time were not.

Conclusions: The results of our study have shown that moderate to severe fibrosis in the detrusor and a DLPP of more than 75 cm H2O are the risk factors for UUT deterioration in patients with ONBD. However, additional studies, including ones with more patients, are needed to determine the relationship between the histopathologic changes and UUT deterioration in ONBD.