AUA: Botox Soothes Overactive Bladder
ATLANTA ? Botox (botulinum toxin type A) injected directly into the bladder's detrusor muscle not only tamed an overactive organ but kept the bladder calm for almost a year, according to Swiss researchers.
ATLANTA, May 30 ? Botox (botulinum toxin type A) injected directly into the bladder's detrusor muscle at 30 different sites not only tamed an overactive organ but kept the bladder calm for almost a year, according to Swiss researchers.
Unlike Botox treatments in other muscular disorders or for cosmetic repair, where injections must be repeated at frequent intervals, one injection could provide a long-term cure, Daniel Schmid Jr., M.D., of the University of Zurich reported at the American Urological Association meeting here.
"We were very surprised that we didn't have to re-inject these people after three months or six months," Dr. Schmid said.
Nine months after the initial treatment, 82% of 150 patients, refractory to anticholinergics, who were treated with Botox, were continent, a statistically significant improvement (P
"There seems to be a signal here that we can change this disease," said Roger Dmochowski, M.D., of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn. "There is the potential to hope that we can cure this disease."
