Pathophysiology of Overactive Bladder

Abstract

Overactive bladder syndrome (OAB), characterized by urinary frequency, nocturia and urgency with or without incontinence, is a widespread medical condition with significant impact on quality of life. Three main factors have been proposed regarding the cause of OAB: myogenic, neurogenic and urotheliogenic. Disturbance of any of the three factors or a combination of these factors can attribute to OAB. Metabolic derangement, bladder outlet obstruction and inflammation can increase the excitability of nerve, detrusor muscle and alter the sensory and barrier functions of the urothelium. The detection of proteins in the urine such as NGF, PGE2, and proinflammatory chemokines may advance our understanding of the pathophysiology of OAB and offer novel diagnostic biomarkers of OAB. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.