Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Medical Causes of Overactive Bladder

  • Overactive Bladder (A Klausner, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Bladder Dysfunction Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Overactive bladder (OAB), defined as a symptom complex consisting of urgency, with or without urge incontinence, in the absence of urinary tract infection or other obvious pathology, is a diagnosis affecting millions of Americans and patients around the world and is associated with significant secondary morbidity and mortality. The economic burden and prevalence of OAB is increasing in the United States, and its underlying etiology can be attributed to multiple factors. In addition to aging, pelvic floor weakness and bladder outlet obstruction, a number of medical conditions can lead to the symptoms of overactive bladder. Recognition and proper management of associated medical conditions can lead to improved patient outcomes and decreased expenditure of healthcare resources.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

  1. • Haylen BT, de Ridder D, Freeman RM, et al.: An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic floor dysfunction. Int Urogynecol J. 2010;5–26. A understanding of the definition of overactive bladder is important when reviewing relevant literature.

  2. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M, et al. The standardization of terminology in lower urinary tract function: report from the standardization subcommittee of the International Continence Society. Neurourol Urodyn. 2002;21(2):167–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Abrams P, Blaivas JG, Stanton S, et al. The standardization of terminology of lower urinary tract function. Neurourol Urodyn. 1988;7:403–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Irwin DE, Milsom I, Hunskaar S, et al. Population-based survey of urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and other lower urinary tract symptoms in five countries: results of the EPIC study. Eur Urol. 2006;50(6):1306–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. • Tikkinen KA. Epidemiology of Nocturia - Results from the FINNO Study. Tampere University Press. 2010. Prevalence of OAB must be considered in the context of any underlying pathology.

  6. Ganz ML, Smalarz AM, Krupski TL, et al. Economic costs of overactive bladder in the United States. Urology. 2010;75(3):526–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. • Robinson D, Cardozo L. Overactive bladder: diagnosis and management. Maturitas. 2012;71(2):188–93. Article discusses the difference between overactive bladder and detrusor overactivity.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Hashim H, Abrams P: Is the bladder a reliable witness for predicting detrusor overactivity? J Urol. 2006.191–195.

  9. Brown JS. Diabetic Cystopathy—What Does it Mean? J Urol. 2009;181(1):13–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Lee WC, Wu HP, Tai TY, et al. Effects of Diabetes on Female Voiding Behavior. J Urol. 2004;172(3):989–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Yamaguchi C, Sakakibara R, Uchiyama T, et al. Overactive bladder in diabetes: a peripheral or central mechanism? Neurourol Urodyn. 2007;26(6):807–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Liu RT, Chung MS, Lee WC, et al. Prevalence of overactive bladder and associated risk factors in 1359 patients with type 2 diabetes. Urology. 2011;78(5):1040–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Chiu AF, Huang MH, Wang CC, Kuo HC. Higher glycosylated hemoglobin levels increase the risk of overactive bladder syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Int J Urol. 2012. 10.1111/j.1442-2042.2012.03095.x.

  14. Grünfeld JP, Rossier BC. Lithium nephrotoxicity revisited. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2009;5(5):270–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Rosenbaum JF, Pollack MH. Treatment-emergent incontinence with lithium. J Clin Psych. 1985;46(10):444–5.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Fry CH, et al.: Incontinence. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Khoury S, Wein A, editors. Health Publications. 2005;313–362.

  17. de Groat WC, Booth AM. Nervous Control of the Urogenital System (Autonomic Nervous System). Harwood Academic. 1993;291–347.

  18. Andersson KE, Arner A. Urinary bladder contraction and relaxation: physiology and pathophysiology. Physiol Rev. 2004;84(3):935–86.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Janig W, Morrison JF. Functional properties of spinal visceral afferents supplying abdominal and pelvic organs, with special emphasis on visceral nociception. Prog Brain Res. 1986;87–114.

  20. Fowler CJ, Griffiths D, de Groat WC. The neural control of micturition. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2008;9(6):453–66.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Tubaro A, Puccini F, De Nunzio C, et al. The Treatment of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Systematic Review. Curr Urol Rep. 2012;13(5):335–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Betts CD, D’Mellow MT, Fowler CJ. Urinary symptoms and the neurological features of bladder dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psych. 1993;245–250

  23. • Wolfe DL, Legassic M, McIntyre A, et al.: Bladder Health and Function Following Spinal Cord Injury. Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil Evid. 2012;1–143. It is important to consider the urologic symptoms expected based on the level of spinal cord lesion.

  24. Betts CD, D’Mellow MT, Fowler CJ. Urinary symptoms and the neurological features of bladder dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. J Neural Neurosurg Psychiatry. 1993;245–250

  25. Onal B, Siva A, Buldu I, et al. Voiding Dysfunction due to Multiple Sclerosis: a Large Scale Retrospective Analysis. Int Braz J Urol. 2009;35(3):326–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Kasabian NG, Krause I, Brown WE, et al. Fate of the upper urinary tract in multiple sclerosis. Neurourol Urodyn. 1995;14(1):81–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Hall SA, Curto TM, Onyenwenyi A, et al.: Characteristics of persons with overactive bladder of presumed neurologic origin: Results from the Boston Area Community Health (BACH) survey. Neurourol Urodyn. 2012;1149–55.

  28. Winge K, Nielsen KK. Bladder dysfunction in advanced parkinson's disease. Neurourol Urodyn. 2012;31(8):1279–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Iacovelli E, Gilio F, Meco G, et al. Bladder symptoms assessed with overactive bladder questionnaire in Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2010;25(9):1203–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Ragab MM, Mohammed ES. Idiopathic Parkinson's disease patients at the urologic clinic. Neurourol Urodyn. 2011;30(7):1258–61.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Ramaker C, Marinus J, Stiggelbout AM, Van Hilten BJ. Systematic evaluation of rating scales for impairment and disability in Parkinson’s disease. Mov Disord. 2002;17(5):867–76.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Ahmed HU, Shergill IS, Arya M, Shah PJ. Management of detrusor-external sphincter dyssynergia. Nat Clin Pract Urol. 2006;3(7):368–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Mahfouz W, Corcos J. Management of detrusor external sphincter dyssynergia in neurogenic bladder. Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2011;47(4):639–50.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Cruz CD, Cruz F. Spinal cord injury and bladder dysfunction: new ideas about an old problem. Sci World J. 2011;11:214–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Erol B, Koçak T, Kadioğlu A, et al. The relationship between level of injury and bladder behavior in patients with post-traumatic spinal cord injury. Ulus Travma Acil Cerrahi Derg. 2009;15(4):377–82.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Podnar S, Trsinar B, Vodusek DB. Bladder dysfunction in patients with cauda equina lesions. Neurourol Urodyn. 2006;25(1):23–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Mehdizadeh M, Roohi A, Hemami M, Esfahani ST. Is There Any Association between Spina Bifida Occulta and Primary Vesicoureteral Reflux? Iranian J Ped. 2010;20(3):348–52.

    Google Scholar 

  38. de Jong TP, Chrzan R, Klijn AJ, Dik P. Treatment of the neurogenic bladder in spina bifida. Pediatr Nephrol. 2008;23(6):889–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Sakakibara R, Hattori T, Uchiyama T, et al. Uroneurological assessment of spina bifida cystica and occulta. Neurourol Urodyn. 2003;22(4):328–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Chandra MS. Can urodynamic studies be dispensed with in the initial urologic management of children with meningomyelocele? A study of 30 cases and review of the literature. J Ped Urol. 2007;3(3):195–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Nitti VW, Adler H, Combs AJ. The role of urodynamics in the evaluation of voiding dysfunction in men after cerebrovascular accident. J Urol. 1996;155(1):263–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Nakayama H, Jørgensen HS, Pedersen PM, et al. Prevalence and risk factors of incontinence after stroke. The Copenhagen Stroke Study. Stroke. 1997;28(1):58–62.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Gupta A, Taly AB, Srivastava A, Thyloth M. Urodynamics post stroke in patients with urinary incontinence: Is there correlation between bladder type and site of lesion? Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2009;12(2):104–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Kiefer M, Unterberg A. The differential diagnosis and treatment of normal-pressure hydrocephalus. Dtsch Arztebl Int. 2012;109(1–2):15–25.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Sakakibara R, Uchiyama T, Kanda T, et al. Urinary dysfunction in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. Brain Nerve. 2008;60(3):233–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. • Sakakibara R, Uchida Y, Ishii K, et al. Correlation of right frontal hypoperfusion and urinary dysfunction in iNPH: a SPECT study. Neurourol Urodyn. 2012;31(1):50–5. Important study showing that in patients with NPH, urinary dysfunction correlates with right frontal lobe hypoperfusion. This study may help uncover the higher cortical centers involved in micturition.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Greenberg BM. Treatment of acute transverse myelitis and its early complications. Continuum (Minneap Minn). 2011;17(4):733–43.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Pizzorno R, Simonato A, Esposito M, et al. Vesical sequelae of transverse myelitis. Long-term urodynamics observations in adult patients. Urologia. 2009;76(2):101–3.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Nakipoglu GF, Ozgirgin N. Urodynamic evaluation and rehabilitation outcomes in transverse myelitis. Neurosciences (Riyadh). 2009;14(1):37–40.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Tanaka ST, Stone AR, Kurzrock EA. Transverse myelitis in children: long-term urological outcomes. J Urol. 2006;175(5):1865–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Sakakibara R, Uchiyama T, Kuwabara S, et al. Prevalence and mechanism of bladder dysfunction in Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Neurourol Urodyn. 2009;28(5):432–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA

    Jeffrey P. Weiss

  2. SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, 450 Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA

    Milan B. Shah

Authors
  1. Milan B. Shah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jeffrey P. Weiss
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Milan B. Shah.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Shah, M.B., Weiss, J.P. Medical Causes of Overactive Bladder. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep 8, 51–56 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-012-0168-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-012-0168-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation