Objective: To evaluate urinary nerve growth factor (NGF)/creatinine (Cr) levels from men with symptomatic lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and measure the effect of combination therapy with solifenacin and tamsulosin.
Materials and methods: From January 2012 to February 2014, all male patients referred for evaluation and management of LUTS were screened for enrollment. In all subjects, urinary NGF and Cr levels were measured and normalized to the urinary Cr concentrations (NGF/Cr). Uroflow, postvoid residual, and symptom questionnaires were measured at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks after starting combination therapy with solifenacin 5 mg and tamsulosin 0.4 mg. The primary endpoint was urinary NGF and NGF/Cr change from baseline compared with week 12.
Results: Ten patients were recruited into the study. Peak urine flow at baseline 20.3 ± 2.5 ml/s and postvoid residual 45.3 ± 13.6 ml did not significantly change with 3 months of combination treatment 14.9 ± 1.8 ml/s and 58.5 ± 23.9 ml. However, urine NGF/Cr (pg/mg) levels were significantly reduced following treatment with levels of 39.7 ± 6.6 at baseline to 17.9 ± 5.1 at 3 months (P value <.05). The decrease in urine NGF/Cr levels correlated with significant decreases in patient reported outcomes.
Conclusion: Male patients with LUTS had decreased urinary NGF/Cr levels after treatment with combination solifenacin and tamsulosin in this novel pilot study. This corresponded with improvement in patient reported outcomes.
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