Contemporary studies have discredited the methods used to exclude urinary tract infection (UTI) when treating overactive bladder (OAB). Thus we must revisit the OAB phenotype to check that UTI has not been overlooked.
To examine the differences in urinary cytokines IL6 and lactoferrin in OAB patients compared to controls, with references to microscopy of urine and enhanced quantitative urine culture.
A blinded, prospective cohort study with normal controls using six repeated measures, achieved two-monthly, over 12 months.
The differences between patients and controls in urine IL6 (F = 49.0, p < .001) and lactoferrin (F = 228.5, p < .001) were significant and of a magnitude to have clinical implications. These differences were for lactoferrin correlated to symptoms (9.3, p = .003); for both to pyuria (IL6 F = 66.2, p < .001, Lactoferrin F = 73.9, p < .001); and for IL6 microbial abundance (F = 5.1, p = .024). The pathological markers had been missed by urinary dipsticks and routine MSU culture.
The OAB phenotype may encompass patients with UTI that is being overlooked because of the failure of standard screening methods.
BMC urology. 2021 Mar 19*** epublish ***
Kiren Gill, Harry Horsley, Sheela Swamy, Rajvinder Khasriya, James Malone-Lee
Women's Health, Whittington Health NHS Trust, Magdala Avenue, London, N19 5FN, UK. ., Bladder Infection and Immunity Group (BIIG), Department of Renal Medicine, Division of Medicine, University College London, Royal Free Hospital Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London, NW3 2PF, UK., Women's Health, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London, SE1 7EH, UK., Women's Health, Whittington Health NHS Trust, Magdala Avenue, London, N19 5FN, UK., Bladder Infection and Immunity Group (BIIG), Department of Renal Medicine, Division of Medicine, University College London, 10 Harley Street, London, W1G 9PF, UK.