Evaluation of Choline and Acetylcholine Levels in Responders and Nonresponders to Anticholinergic Therapy for Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Objective This study aimed to determine whether levels of choline (Ch) and acetylcholine (Ach) differ between responders and nonresponders to anticholinergic therapy. Methods Patients prescribed an anticholinergic were evaluated using the Overactive Bladder Symptom Score; Medical, Epidemiologic and Social Aspects of Aging and Incontinence Questionnaire; and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-7. A 1-day voiding diary and a urine sample were collected. After treatment for 12 weeks, the questionnaires were administered and 1-day voiding diary was completed. Levels of Ach and Ch were measured by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry. Subjects were divided into responders and nonresponders. Wilcoxon rank sum test and Fisher exact test were used to express differences between groups. Spearman ρ correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between Ach and Ch and symptom severity, patient demographics, and questionnaire scores. Results Thirty-one women were included in the analysis. The treatment response rate was 48.8%. The median age was 67 years (interquartile range, 50–76 years), and median body mass index was 32.3 kg/m 2 (27.5–40.6 kg/m 2 ), with 41.2% having an additional complaint of stress incontinence. There were no significant differences in symptom severity or questionnaire scores between groups. The median Ch and Ach levels were higher in responders (28.6 vs 9.2 μL, P = 0.04) and (83.1 vs 18.7 nL, P = 0.02), respectively. Levels of both Ch and Ach had moderate positive correlations with the Medical, Epidemiologic and Social Aspects of Aging and Incontinence Questionnaire urgency urinary incontinence score (ρ = 0.533 [ P = 0.002] and ρ = 0.453 [ P = 0.01], respectively). Conclusion In women with overactive bladder, urinary Ach and Ch levels are higher in responders to anticholinergic therapy compared with nonresponders.