Efficacy and Safety of OnabotulinumtoxinA in Treating Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Abstract

Background:

OnabotulinumtoxinA is widely used in treating neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO). We carried out a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of the drug for treating NDO.

Methods:

We searched the following databases: Medline, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register. All published randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of NDO were identified in the analysis. The reference lists of the retrieved studies were also investigated.

Results:

Four publications involving a total of 807 patients were identified in the analysis, which compared onabotulinumtoxinA with placebo. The changes of the mean number of urinary incontinence per week (the standardized mean difference [SMD] = −10.91, 95% confidence intervals [CIs] = −14.18–−7.63, P < 0.0001); maximum cystometric capacity (SMD = 146.09, 95% CI = 126.19–165.99, P < 0.0001) and maximum detrusor pressure (SMD = −32.65, 95% CI = −37.83–−27.48, P < 0.0001) indicated that onabotulinumtoxinA was more effective than the placebo, despite the doses of onabotulinumtoxinA. Safety assessments primarily localized to the urinary tract indicated onabotulinumtoxinA were often associated with more complications. Urinary tract infections (relative risk [RR] =1.48, 95% CI = 1.20–1.81, P = 0.0002); hematuria (RR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.00–3.24, P = 0.05) and urinary retention (RR = 5.87, 95% CI = 3.61–9.56, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions:

This meta-analysis indicates that onabotulinumtoxinA to be an effective treatment for NDO with side effects primarily localized to urinary tract.

INTRODUCTION

Overactive bladder (OAB), defined by the International Continence Society as urgency with or without urinary incontinence (UI), usually associated with frequency and nocturia,[1] is a multifactorial and common health disorder associated with detrimental effects on quality-of-life and huge economic burden.[2,3] Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) is defined as a special kind of OAB when there is a relevant underlying neurological condition spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis.[1] It is caused by spontaneous, involuntary contractions of the bladder wall during urinary filling that can be associated with reduced bladder wall compliance and elevated filling pressures.[4] Antimuscarinic agents are the current pharmacological mainstay for OAB.[5,6] However, many patients discontinue their use due to inadequate efficacy and/or intolerable side effects.[7,8]

OnabotulinumtoxinA, a specific formulation of botulinum toxin A, is a neuromodulator that inhibits vesicle-mediated neurotransmission and reduces muscle spasticity, which has emerged as an effective second line therapy in the management of NDO with a recent European consensus giving it a Grade A recommendation for use in this condition.[9] The efficacy of intradetrusor botulinum toxin type A injection in treating NDO was first reported in 1999.[10] In NDO, intradetrusor botulinum toxin type A has been shown to significantly decrease UI episodes and improve urodynamic parameters at doses of 200 U and 300 U in several randomized placebo-controlled trials.[11,12,13,14] However, modulation of neuromuscular transmission may also result in urinary retention and so on and for this reason botulinum toxin type A is still under debate.[15]

The goal of the present study was to perform a meta-analysis to evaluate the safety and efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA in treating NDO, which may resolve some of the current controversies over use of the drug.

METHODS

Search strategy

Medline (1966 to November 2013), EMBASE (1974 to November 2013), and Cochrane Controlled Trials Register databases were searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that referred to the impact of onabotulinumtoxinA in treating NDO; we also searched the reference lists of the retrieved studies. The following search terms were used: OnabotulinumtoxinA, NDO, RCT.

Inclusion criteria and trial selection

Randomized controlled trials that met the following criteria were included: (1) The study design included treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA; (2) the study provided accurate data that could be analyzed, including the total number of subjects and the values of each index; and (3) the full text of the study could be accessed. When the same study was published in various journals or different years, the most recent publication was used for the meta-analysis. If the same group of researchers studied a group of subjects with multiple experiments, then each study was included. A flow diagram of the study selection process is presented in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

A flow diagram of the study selection process.

Quality assessment

The quality of the identified RCTs was assessed in terms of how patients were allocated to the arms of the study, the concealment of allocation procedures, blinding, and data loss due to attrition. The studies were then classified qualitatively according to the guidelines published in the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions v. 5.1.0.[16] Based on the quality assessment criteria, each study was rated and assigned to one of the three following quality categories: A – If all quality criteria were adequately met, the study was deemed to have a low risk of bias; B – If one or more of the quality criteria was only partially met or was unclear, the study was deemed to have a moderate risk of bias; or C – If one or more of the criteria was not met or not included, the study was deemed to have a high risk of bias. Differences were resolved by discussion among the authors.

Data extraction

The following information was collected for each study: (1) The name of the RCT; (2) the study design and sample size; (3) the therapy that the patients received; (4) the country in which the study was conducted; and (5) data including the mean number of UI per week, maximum cystometric capacity (MCC), maximum detrusor pressure (MDP) during first involuntary detrusor contraction, urinary tract infection (UTI), hematuria, and urinary retention.

Statistical analysis and meta-analysis

The meta-analysis of comparable data was carried out using RevMan v.5.1.0 (Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, UK).[16] The data of changes in the mean number of UI per week, MCC and MDP during first involuntary detrusor contraction were continuous data, which were used for assessing the efficacy. And the data of changes in the mean number of UI per week were determined as the main parameters. The data of common adverse events [AEs] (e.g. UTI, hematuria and urinary retention) were discontinuous data. We estimated the relative risk (RR) for dichotomous outcomes and the standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous outcomes pooled across studies by using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model.[17] A “fixed-effects” statistical model was used if there was no conspicuous heterogeneity, and a “random-effects” model was used if heterogeneity was detected. Tests for heterogeneity were performed using Chi-square tests with the significance level set at P < 0.1. Furthermore, for a more acute analysis, a subgroup analysis was performed for some conditions.

RESULTS

Characteristics of the individual studies

The database search found 257 articles that could have been included in our meta-analysis. Based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 219 articles were excluded after reading the titles and abstracts of the articles. Twenty-nine articles were not RCTs. Five articles lacked useful data. In all, four articles[11,12,13,14] reporting data from a total of four RCTs that compared onabotulinumtoxinA with placebo, were included in the analysis [Figure 1]. The baseline characteristics of the studies included in our meta-analysis are listed in Table 1. All the included patients were administered by intravesical injections in the detrustor and evaluated at weeks 6 after the treatment.

Table 1.

Study and patient characteristics

Author	Therapy in experimental group	Therapy in control group	Country	Sample size			Dosage	Inclusion population
				OnabotulinumtoxinA		Placebo
				200 U	300 U
Schurch et al.[11]	OnabotulinumtoxinA	Placebo	Belgium, France and Switzerland	19	19	21	200 U/300 U	Patients with NDO for at least 6 weeks, inadequately treated with anticholinergic therapy
Herschorn et al.[13]	OnabotulinumtoxinA	Placebo	Canada	-	29	29	300 U	Patients with NDO for 1 month or greater, 1 or more UI episodes per day, inadequately treated with anticholinergic therapy
Cruz et al.[12]	OnabotulinumtoxinA	Placebo	Europe, North America, Latin America, South Africa, and Asia Pacific	92	91	92	200 U/300 U	Patients with NDO for 3 months or greater, 14 or more UI episodes per week, inadequately treated with anticholinergic therapy
Ginsberg et al.[14]	OnabotulinumtoxinA	Placebo	US and Europe	135	127	149	200 U/300 U	Patients with NDO for 3 months or greater, 14 or more UI episodes per week, inadequately treated with anticholinergic therapy

UI: Urinary incontinence; NDO: Neurogenic detrusor overactivity.

Quality of the individual studies

All four RCTs were double blinded, and all described the randomization processes that they had used. All included a power calculation to determine the optimal sample size [Table 2]. The level of quality of each identified study was A [Table 2].

Table 2.

Quality assessment of individual study

Author	Allocation sequence generation	Allocation concealment	Blinding	Loss to follow-up (%)	Calculation of sample size	Intention-to- treat analysis	Level of quality
Schurch et al.[11]	A	A	A	0	Yes	Yes	A
Herschorn et al.[13]	A	A	A	10	Yes	Yes	A
Cruz et al.[12]	A	A	A	1.4	Yes	Yes	A
Ginsberg et al.[14]	A	A	A	2.2	Yes	Yes	A

A: All quality criteria met (adequate): low risk of bias.

Efficacy

Mean number of urinary incontinence per week

Two RCTs, representing 932 participants (450 in the onabotulinumtoxinA group and 482 in the control group), included the data of changes in the mean number of UI per week [Figure 2]. According to the doses of the onabotulinumtoxinA, the analyses were divided into two subgroups: Group onabotulinumtoxinA 300 U and group onabotulinumtoxinA 200 U. In the subgroup analyses, the changes of the mean number of UI per week were greatly reduced in both group onabotulinumtoxinA 300 U (SMD = −10.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −18.03–−3.06, P < 0.0001) and group onabotulinumtoxinA 200 U (SMD = −10.66, 95% CI = −14.27–−7.04, P < 0.0001). Combining the results, without the heterogeneity (I² = 0), the changes of the mean number of UI per week decreased (SMD = −10.91, 95% CI = −14.18–−7.63, P < 0.0001). This result suggests that onabotulinumtoxinA of both 300 U and 200 U showed statistically significant reductions in the mean number of UI per week compared with placebo.

Figure 2.

The changes of mean number of urinary incontinence per week.

Maximum cystometric capacity and maximum detrusor pressure during first involuntary detrusor contraction

Two of the RCTs included the MCC improvement data representing a cohort of 932 participants (450 in the onabotulinumtoxinA group and 482 in the control group) [Table 3]. In the subgroup analyses, no heterogeneity was found between the RCTs in which treatment was given the onabotulinumtoxinA 300 U, the SMD was 151.54, and the 95% CI was 122.98–180.10, P < 0.0001. For the study that used onabotulinumtoxinA 200 U, the SMD was 140.94 (95% CI = 113.19–168.68, P < 0.0001). Combining the results, without the heterogeneity (I² = 0), the MCC increases significantly. (SMD = 146.09, 95% CI = 126.19–165.99, P < 0.0001). This result suggests that regardless of the doses, onabotulinumtoxinA had significantly greater increases in the MCC. Two of the RCTs included the MDP during first involuntary detrusor contraction improvement data representing a cohort of 932 participants (450 in the onabotulinumtoxinA group and 482 in the control group) [Table 3]. In the subgroup analyses, the MDP during first involuntary detrusor contraction was greatly reduced in both group onabotulinumtoxinA 300 U (SMD = −31.94, 95% CI = −39.09–−24.79, P < 0.0001) and group onabotulinumtoxinA 200 U (SMD = −33.44, 95% CI = −40.94–−25.94, P < 0.0001). Combining the results, without the heterogeneity (I² = 0), the MDP during first involuntary detrusor contraction decreases significantly. (SMD = −32.65, 95% CI = −37.83–−27.48, P < 0.0001). This result suggests that onabotulinumtoxinA of both 300 U and 200 U reduced the MDP during first involuntary detrusor contraction significantly.

Table 3.

Analysis outcomes of MCC and MDP

Items	Number of studies	SMD	95% CI	P
MCC
OnabotulinumtoxinA 300 U	2	151.54	122.98–180.10	<0.0001
OnabotulinumtoxinA 200 U	2	140.94	113.19–168.68	<0.0001
Overall	2	146.09	126.19–165.99	<0.0001
MDP
OnabotulinumtoxinA 300 U	2	−31.94	−39.09–24.79	<0.0001
OnabotulinumtoxinA 200 U	2	−33.44	−40.94–25.94	<0.0001
Overall	2	−32.65	−37.83–27.48	<0.0001

MCC: Maximum cystometric capacity; SMD: The standardized mean difference; MDP: Maximum detrusor pressure; CI: Confidence interval.

Safety

Urinary tract infection hematuria and urinary retention

Four RCTs, representing 1049 participants (508 in the onabotulinumtoxinA group and 541 in the control group), included the UTI data. According to our analysis, no heterogeneity was found among the trials, and a fixed-effects model was thus chosen for the analysis. Based on our analysis, the pooled estimate of RR was 1.48, and the 95% CI was 1.20–1.81, P = 0.0002. Four RCTs, representing 1049 participants (508 in the onabotulinumtoxinA group and 541 in the control group), included the hematuria data. The pooled estimate of RR was 1.81, and the 95% CI = 1.00–3.24, P = 0.05. And three of the RCTs included urinary retention data representing a cohort of 969 (470 in the onabotulinumtoxinA group and 499 in the control group), the pooled estimate of RR was 5.87, 95% CI = 3.61–9.56, P < 0.0001 [Table 4]. The result suggests that onabotulinumtoxinA was often associated with complications primarily localized to the urinary tract.

Table 4.

Analysis outcomes of adverse events

Adverse events	Number of studies	RR	95% CI	P
Urinary tract infection	4	1.48	1.20–1.81	0.0002
Hematuria	4	1.81	1.00–1.34	0.0500
Urinary retention	4	5.87	3.61–9.56	<0.0001

CI: Confidence interval; RR: Relative risk.

DISCUSSION

Neurogenic detrusor overactivity can be managed by various treatment modalities, including bladder and behavioral training, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, botulinum toxin, surgery or pharmacotherapy.[18] The current first-line pharmacotherapeutic treatment options indicated for NDO are muscarinic receptor antagonists, such as solifenacin, tolterodine, fesoterodine, and so on. However, NDO patients may have a suboptimal response or find that antimuscarinic therapy is limited by associated AEs.[19,20] For these patients, there has not been another class of oral therapeutic agents available; therefore, there is a need for a new treatment option for NDO that is effective and well-tolerated, with a distinct mechanism of action. Efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA injection, a specific formulation of botulinum toxin type A, into the detrusor muscle has been demonstrated in both neurogenic and idiopathic patients with incontinence.[21,22] OnabotulinumtoxinA may be a useful treatment to augment existing NDO treatment options ranging from noninvasive therapies to implantable neuromodulators or other invasive surgical options.

Our study reveals that onabotulinumtoxinA is superior to placebo in improving the mean number of UI per week, MCC and the MDP during first involuntary detrusor contraction. The results demonstrate that treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA provides both statistically significant and more importantly, clinically relevant improvements in the NDO symptoms regardless of the doses. The significant clinical efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA may be explained by its proposed dual mechanism of action in targeting both the afferent and efferent neuronal pathways of bladder control. OnabotulinumtoxinA blocks the release of acetylcholine and other neurotransmitters and may decrease the expression of sensory receptors.[23,24]

The adverse reaction such as UTI, hematuria, and urinary retention induced by onabotulinumtoxinA were higher than placebo. No clinically relevant changes were observed in other safety parameters, such as fatigue, dysuria, constipation, and so on. Overall, treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA was well-tolerated, with AEs primarily limited to localized urologic events.

As the doses of onabotulinumtoxinA were 200 U or 300 U, so we can conclude that onabotulinumtoxinA 200 U or 300 U is an effective treatment for NDO symptoms. OnabotulinumtoxinA was administered via cystoscopy evenly spaced but avoiding the trigone in all of the included RCTs. Kuo[25] and Manecksha et al.[26] conducted two RCTs and reported that bladder base/trigone injection is as safe and effective as bladder body injections with or without trigone involvement. Besides, efficacy and safety data were concluded from 6 weeks, the data of longer term safety and efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA cannot be extrapolated from the included RCTs. Kennelly et al.[27] focused on the results of repeated treatment for up to five treatment cycles and reported significantly decreased UI episodes.

This meta-analysis includes studies which are all findings from randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. According to the quality-assessment scale that we developed, the quality of the individual studies in the meta-analysis was conforming. The results of this analysis acquire great importance from the scientific standpoint but also in the everyday clinical practice. Several potential limitations should be considered in our meta-analysis. First, only four RCTs with a limited number of patients assessing the efficacy and safety of onabotulinumtoxinA were included, and these insufficient data may thus affect the final conclusion. Second, the smaller number of participants, lack of uniformity of patient cohorts, different doses of medications may also result in a bias. Third, the longer term safety, efficacy, and persistence of onabotulinumtoxinA cannot be extrapolated from this article. In addition, unpublished studies’ data were not included in the analysis. More high-quality trials with larger samples are proposed to learn more about the efficacy and safety of different doses of onabotulinumtoxinA on NDO. This meta-analysis indicates that onabotulinumtoxinA to be an effective treatment for NDO symptoms with side effects primarily localized to urinary tract.