Advances in the management of neurogenic detrusor overactivity in multiple sclerosis

Efficacy of abobotulinumtoxinA versus onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of refractory neurogenic detrusor overactivity: a systematic review and indirect treatment comparison

AIMS

To compare the efficacy and safety of abobotulinumtoxinA (aboBoNT-A) and onabotulinumtoxinA (onaBoNT-A) for the treatment of refractory neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO), using an indirect treatment comparison (ITC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic literature review was used to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of refractory NDO. Treatments were compared using a Bucher ITC approach. Efficacy outcomes were reduction in number of weekly urinary incontinence (UI) episodes at 6, 12, and 24 weeks of follow-up. The safety outcome was the proportion of patients with treatment-emergent urinary tract infections (TE-UTIs) during follow-up. Subgroup/sensitivity analyses were performed to investigate the impact of heterogeneity.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies of botulinum toxin type A were identified. Among these, onaBoNT-A 200 U was the only botulinum toxin type A considered an appropriate comparator for aboBoNT-A 600 U and 800 U. As such, six RCTs that evaluated onaBoNT-A or aboBoNT-A were included in the ITC. In base-case analyses, there were no statistically significant differences between aboBoNT-A and onaBoNT-A in terms of UI episodes or TE-UTIs. Numerically, the trend favored aboBoNT-A (either dose) for all endpoints and time points. At 12 and 24 weeks, the difference in reduction of UI episodes per week was considered clinically relevant when comparing aboBoNT-A 800 U with onaBoNT-A 200 U, but not when comparing the lower dose of aboBoNT-A (600 U) with onaBoNT-A 200 U. Results from subgroup/sensitivity analyses were consistent with the base case.

LIMITATIONS

Heterogeneity across studies was observed; however, strong consistency of trends across analyses suggests the impact of heterogeneity is low.

CONCLUSIONS

There may be potential advantages of aboBoNT-A over onaBoNT-A, in terms of UI reduction, in patients with refractory NDO. More confirmatory studies are needed owing to the sparsity of current evidence.

Posterior tibial nerve stimulation as a neuromodulation therapy in treatment of neurogenic overactive bladder in multiple sclerosis: A prospective randomized controlled study

BACKGROUND

one of the major annoying disorders occurring in people with multiple sclerosis is lower urinary tract disorders (LUT). Urgency is considered the main one seriously influencing the quality of life. Neurogenic detrusor over activity (DOAB) is characterized by a hyperreflexic, overactive detrusor that responds quickly to low-intensity sensory input from general visceral afferent fibers. Overactivity has been claimed to induce random, uncontrolled contractions of the detrusor muscle, leading to intravesicular pressure rise, producing urgency, frequency, and consequently incontinence AIM: To demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy for posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) in neurogenic over active bladder (NOAB) in people with multiple sclerosis METHODS: The current trial is a prospective, randomized controlled study. Forty remitting relapsing males with MS with moderate NOAB symptoms were randomly assigned into two equal groups; control group (C) treated by selected therapeutic exercises program for strengthening pelvic floor muscles and an intervention group (ES) receiving an additional posterior tibial nerve electrical stimulation. Each session ranged from 45- 50 minutes, three days weekly for a month. Outcome measures were recorded before starting the treatment and after termination of the study intervention and included over active bladder symptoms score (OVBS) score, urodynamic parameters (uroflow, filling and voiding cystometry), and post voiding residual volume by abdominal ultrasound RESULTS: There was a significant improvement of all voiding parameters compared to baseline and the group C except frequency of urgency incontinence. A significant decrease was detected in post-treatment mean episodes number of nighttime frequency, urgency, urgency incontinence (1.65 ± 0.93, 1.2 ± 0.52 and 1.5 ± 0.76) respectively of the ES group compared to that of group C (3.05 ± 1.09, 2.25 ± 0.71 and 2.25 ± 1.06) (P < 0.01). There was a significant decrease in median post-treatment OVBS score 3 (3-3) compared to group C median score 5 (6-4). A statistically significant improvement was observed of all urodynamic parameters (bladder capacity and compliance, Detrusor overactivity (DO), maximum flow rate and post voidal residual volume in the ES group compared to the group C CONCLUSION: PTNS is a promising and potentially beneficial treatment option for NOAB symptoms in males with MS and superior to pelvic floor muscle training alone.

Botulinum Toxin Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis-a Review

Purpose of review The purpose of this review is to provide updated information on the role of botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) therapy in multiple sclerosis (MS). This review aims to answer which symptoms of multiple sclerosis may be amenable to BoNT therapy. Recent findings We searched the literature on the efficacy of BoNTs for treatment of MS symptoms up to April 1st 2017 via the Yale University Library's search engine including but not limited to Pub Med and Ovis SP. The level of efficacy was defined according to the assessment's criteria set forth by the Subcommittee on Guideline Development of the American Academy of Neurology. Significant efficacy was found for two indications based on the available blinded studies (class I and II) and has been suggested for several others through open-label clinical trials. Summary There is level A evidence (effective- two or more class I) that injection of BoNT-A into the bladder's detrusor muscle improves MS-related neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and MS-related overactive (OA) bladder. There is level B evidence (probably effective- two class II studies) for utility of intramuscular BoNT-A injections for spasticity of multiple sclerosis. Emerging data based on retrospective class IV studies demonstrates that intramuscular injection of BoNTs may help other symptoms of MS such as focal tonic spasms, focal myokymia, spastic dysphagia, and double vision in internuclear ophthalmoplegia. There is no data on MS-related trigeminal neuralgia and sialorrhea, two conditions which have been shown to respond to BoNT therapy in non-MS population.

Management of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a debilitating neurological condition that attributes significant morbidity to bladder dysfunction. Although many effective treatment options exist, symptomatic patients are often underdiagnosed and undertreated. The purpose of this article is to give an overview of the current literature including new screening tools to identify symptomatic patients and updates on treatment options including medications, botulinum toxin, and neuromodulation.

Improving Outcomes in Patients With Refractory Idiopathic and Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity: Management Strategies

Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) is a lower urinary tract dysfunction commonly seen in rehabilitation settings. The emotional, medical, and financial consequences of NDO can be substantial and management typically requires a multidisciplinary team approach. Physiatrists need to be able to identify patients who require referral to specialists for diagnostic testing or higher-tiered treatment and need to engender open lines of communication between their patients and all treating clinicians. This requires an understanding of the evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunctions.

Intradetrusorial Botulinum Toxin in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A Neurophysiological Study

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) often complain of urinary disturbances characterized by overactive bladder syndrome and difficulties in bladder emptying. The aim of the study was to investigate the pathophysiology of bladder dysfunction and the neurophysiological effects of intradetrusorial incobotulinum toxin A (BoNT/A) in patients with MS having both brain and spinal MS-related lesions. Twenty-five MS patients with neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) underwent clinical evaluation and soleus Hoffmann reflex (H reflex) study during urodynamics. Of the 25 patients, 14 underwent a further session one month after intradetrusorial BoNT/A injection. Eighteen healthy subjects acted as the control. In healthy subjects, the H reflex size significantly decreased at maximum cystometric capacity (MCC), whereas in MS patients with NDO, the H reflex remained unchanged. In the patients who received intradetrusorial BoNT/A, clinical and urodynamic investigations showed that NDO improved significantly. Volumes at the first, normal and strong desire to void and MCC increased significantly. Despite its efficacy in improving bladder symptoms and in increasing volumes for first desire, normal and strong desire to void, BoNT/A left the H reflex modulation during bladder filling unchanged. In the MS patients we studied having both brain and spinal MS-related lesions, the H reflex size remained unchanged at maximum bladder filling. Since this neurophysiological pattern has been previously found in patients with spinal cord injury, we suggest that bladder dysfunction arises from the MS-related spinal lesions. BoNT/A improves bladder dysfunction by changing bladder afferent input, as shown by urodynamic findings on bladder filling sensations, but its effects on H reflex modulation remain undetectable.

Current and future drugs for treatment of MS-associated bladder dysfunction

A majority of patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) will develop lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) during the course of the disease. Even if antimuscarinic (anticholinergic) treatment is currently the mainstay of conservative treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO), including MS-induced NDO, extensive data regarding their effectiveness and safeness are lacking. When antimuscarinic medications fail to prove efficacious, a further option is intradetrusor injections of onabotulinumtoxin A. In several studies, more than half (and up 76%) of the patients treated with onabotulinumtoxin A experienced significant improvement in symptoms or even achieved complete continence. Cannabis extracts have shown some promise but has still not gained wide acceptance as an effective treatment. Over the last few years many new disease-modifying drugs that have been approved and introduced for treatment of MS. These drugs may have effects not only on the MS disease process, but also on the disease symptoms, including LUTS. However, MS is not primarily a bladder disease and treatment of the underlying pathophysiology should be the main goal of treatment. Since most of the urology drugs are targeting LUTS, these drugs should be regarded as "adds on" to treatments modifying the underlying disorder. Considering that most of these drugs have not been studied specifically with respect to efficacy on LUTS, and since they are not without significant side effects, it seems important that if and when they are going to be used for treatment of bladder symptoms should be a joint decision between the neurologist and urologist taking care of the patient.