SENSORY ACTIONS OF ANTIMUSCARINICSFINNEY et al. Antimuscarinic drugs in detrusor overactivity and the overactive bladder syndrome: motor or sensory actions? STEVEN M. FINNEY, KARL-ERIK ANDERSSON*, JAMES I. GILLESPIE† and LAURENCE H. STEWART Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, UK, *Department of Clinical and Experimental, Pharmacology, Lund University Hospital, Sweden, and †The Urophysiology Research Group, School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences, The Medical School, The University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Antimuscarinic drugs are generally thought to
exert their therapeutic action on detrusor
(seven papers). Variables relating to bladder
overactivity by reducing the ability of the
function during the filling phase (time of
(idiopaths/not stated), reported no change in
first desire to void, time to first unstable
bladder contractility with antimuscarinic
drugs. Thus the available data do not support
establish whether there is any evidence to
identified. Similarly, variables relating to
the conclusion that antimuscarinic drugs at
voiding were identified and compared (e.g.
doses used in current clinical practice exert
their therapeutic action by inhibiting detrusor
(including two abstracts) were found that
contractility, but they suggest effects on
contained cystometric data for both filling
variables associated with sensation.
and voiding phases and where the actions of
significant effect on sensations of urge, time
to first sensation to void, maximum bladder
in detail. These articles were separated into
capacity, decrease in voiding frequency and
KEYWORDS
reduction in incontinence episodes. However,
anticholinergic drugs, bladder overactivity,
idiopathic overactive bladder (four papers)
INTRODUCTION
relieve the symptoms. There is no doubt that
the antimuscarinic drugs currently used in
predominate. Although M2 receptors might
clinical practice (oxybutynin, tolterodine,
predominate in number over M3 receptors, it
detrusor overactivity (DO) is defined as ‘a
trospium, solifenacin and darifenacin) are
is the M3 receptors that are mainly responsible
effective in reducing the symptoms of OAB.
for the normal micturition contraction [5].
involuntary detrusor contractions during the
Also, there is no doubt that at high doses
filling phase which may be spontaneous or
antimuscarinics can reduce the amplitude of
bladder urothelial cells and on structures in
provoked’. The overactive bladder syndrome
detrusor contraction. Indeed, patients given
the suburothelium (interstitial cells, nerves)
(OAB) is a symptom complex characterized
an excess of antimuscarinic drugs retain urine
[6]. Therefore antimuscarinics block, more or
less selectively, muscarinic receptors not just
on the detrusor muscle, where they decrease
frequency and nocturia [1]. It is a common
therapeutic effect of these drugs is to reduce
condition affecting 17% of the populations of
However, clinically, antimuscarinics act mainly
Europe and the USA [2,3]. Most patients with
during the storage phase, decreasing urgency
OAB have urodynamically confirmed DO, and
Our aim in this review is to analyse previously
and increasing bladder capacity. During this
the vast majority of patients with DO have
reported data related to therapeutic doses of
phase it is generally considered that there is
antimuscarinics in current routine use on
no activity in the parasympathetic nerves.
bladder contractility and sensory variables.
Furthermore, antimuscarinics are usually
The symptoms of DO/OAB have been generally
competitive antagonists. This implies that
considered to be due to abnormal bladder
PRECLINICAL STUDIES
acetylcholine, as during micturition, the
during the filling phase. On this assumption
effects of the drugs should be decreased,
contraction in humans is mainly mediated by
otherwise the reduced ability of the detrusor
to contract would eventually lead to urinary
the contention that they will reduce the
retention. The question is whether there are
contractility of the detrusor muscle. The
other effects of antimuscarinics that can
myocytes. Although all muscarinic receptor
contribute to their beneficial effects in the
subtypes have been detected in the human
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TABLE 1 Details of the papers reporting results in group I
attracted considerable interest as a target for antimuscarinics. Yoshida et al. [7] found
that there is a basal acetylcholine release in
isolated human bladder tissue. This release
origin and, at least partly, generated by the
urothelium. Intravesical administration of
muscarinic receptor agonists can generate
DO, which can be inhibited by antimuscarinics
[8] and it was suggested that such an effect
suburothelium. Further supporting an effect
of antimuscarinics on afferent nerves, Yokoyama et al. [9] found that low i.v. doses of tolterodine significantly increased bladder capacity in vehicle-treated rats with DO caused by cerebral infarction, but had
TABLE 2 Details of the papers reporting results in group II
no effects on bladder capacity in rats treated with resiniferatoxin. Intravesical
administration of tolterodine significantly
increased bladder capacity in control rats with
cerebral infarction, but had no effect on
bladder capacity in resiniferatoxin-treated
rats. Yokoyama et al. therefore suggested that
at low doses tolterodine has an inhibitory
effect on C-fibre bladder afferent nerves,
thereby improving bladder capacity during
EVIDENCE FROM STUDIES ON PATIENTS
Articles containing cystometric data for patients treated with antimuscarinics,
*G refers to a subclassification of patients with OAB determined by their volume and pressure of first OC,
currently used in routine clinical practice,
i.e. G2, high-volume (>250 mL)/high-pressure (>25 cmH O); G3, low-volume (<250 mL)/low-pressure
were identified through a standard Medline
(<25 cmH O); G4, low-volume (<250 mL)/high-pressure (>25 cmH O). NC, no change; inc, increased; dec,
search. Generic and brand names were cross-
decreased; Oxy, oxybutynin; Tol, Tolterodine.
referenced with terms used to describe urodynamic assessments, in addition to filling/voiding variables. Few studies were identified, which is surprising given the prevalence of OAB and the global usage of
subdivision in data would occur. In view of the
two treatment groups [10], in all making four
limitations in this approach, the data from
filling all treatment arms commented upon an
There are only 14 original articles (including
significant or not, based upon P < 0.05, and
increase in maximum cystometric capacity
descriptive analysis used to compare results
cystometric data for both filling and voiding
phases in patients with OAB before and after
(Pdetmaxfilling). The effects on compliance
treatment. In these articles there is much
ANALYSIS OF PUBLISHED DATA
were equivocal, with two arms showing no
variation in the way cystometric variables are
significant change and two a significant
reported, the numbers of patients involved
For the purpose of this analysis the published
increase. In reported voiding variables, Pdetmax
and methods of analysis. These factors make a
was significantly decreased in two arms (both
significant formal statistical analysis difficult.
depending on the patient group described, i.e.
In addition, the changing definition of an
‘neuropaths’, ‘idiopaths’ and mixed (or not
significant change in maximum urinary flow
‘overactive contraction’ during cystometry,
specifically stated), labelled groups I to III,
(Qmax) and the effects on residual volume were
from those restricted to >15 cmH2O to all
clinically relevant involuntary rises in detrusor pressure (Pdet), makes a cumulative
In group I (Table 1) data were reviewed from
In group II (Table 2) data were reviewed from
three articles [10–12], one of which contained
three articles and one abstract [13–16]. One
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TABLE 3 Details of the papers reporting results in group IIIIT, individually titrated; NC, no change; inc, increased.
article, the only article to do so, subdivided
The effects on variables associated with the
suggested an increase in residual volume, and
voiding phase were unequivocal, although
in one there was no significant change in Pdet
depending on the volume and magnitude of
relatively few arms were available for analysis.
at either urethral opening (UO) or closure
the first overactive contraction (OC) [13].
There were no significant changes in either
low-pressure, high-volume/high-pressure,
In general there was a uniform trend between
In group III (Table 3) data were reviewed from
groups II and III, but the main exception to an
six articles [17–22] and one abstract [23].
overall trend was the effect on reported Pdet
and pressure of the first OC in relation
Group III contained a combination of mixed
in group I (neuropaths), with two arms from
respectively. This subdivision was used to
decrease in Pdet during both filling and
assess two antimuscarinics, resulting in eight
emptying. This might be a result of the few
treatment arms. However, as two of these
examining the effect of an antimuscarinic in
patients involved or signify differences in the
arms had too few patients, only six from this
aetiologies of ‘idiopathic’ and ‘neuropathic’
article were available for analysis, with one
containing data for an older medication,
propantheline, was not analysed). In one article [21], antimuscarinic and behavioural
In examining the data as a whole, a more
In group II the effects of antimuscarinics on
modification therapy was compared solely
convincing view emerges as to the effects of
variables associated with the storage phase
with behavioural modification. Although the
were not clear. First desire to void (FDV) was
results for the effects of antimuscarinics were
Variables associated with storage, e.g. FDV
significantly increased in five treatment arms,
not directly presented, they can be deduced
and CCmax, are significantly greater in the vast
with two reporting no significant change. This
majority of articles, with variables associated
is mirrored by the volume at first OC (VFOC),
with voiding, e.g. PdetQmax and Qmax not being
with six showing a significant increase and
significantly changed. However, the effect on
two no change. Interestingly, in group II, CCmax
significantly increased both the VFOC and
Pdetmax seems equivocal, with two articles
was only significantly increased in three of
CCmax, suggested by four and six articles,
suggesting a decrease and one suggesting no
the arms, and not significantly changed in
respectively. In addition, the PFOC and the
five, conflicting with data from group I. The
Pdetmax-OC were not significantly changed,
Pdetmax of the largest OC (Pdetmax-OC) again
although only one article each described
some conclusions to be formulated for most
significant decrease and one no significant
urodynamic variables, as either the results are
change. However, in all groups reporting the
There were no conflicting results in the
consistent among articles, or in the case of
pressure of the first OC (PFOC), there was no
voiding variables. Three articles reported no
some disparity, the vast majority suggest one
significant change in Qmax or PdetQmax; six
variable over another. In cases of equivocal
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results, articles were divided between either
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Yokoyama O, Yusup A, Miwa Y, Oyama
similar changes or no change. There were no
N, Aoki Y, Akino H. Effects of tolterodine
cases of opposing results between articles, i.e.
We acknowledge the support of Novartis in
facilitating discussions which led to the
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