Review of the available urethral bulking agents.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Newer tissue bulking agents used to treat stress urinary incontinence and vesicoureteral reflux provide for similar rates of success as older agents, but with greater safety and hopefully with greater durability. We review the new studies on the development and on the current trials of bulking agents.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent reports suggest that periurethral bulking agents are as effective for genuine stress urinary continence as for intrinsic sphincter deficiency, expanding the indications for injectable agents to include patients desiring less invasive procedures due to personal preference or as a result of medical necessity. Newer bulking agents, Durasphere and Macroplastique, appear safe and as efficacious as older agents in early trials. Durability remains a question for these agents. Injectable tissue matrices and autologous cells may prove useful in the future.

SUMMARY

If durable and safe, these minimally invasive bulking agents may prove useful for all types of stress urinary incontinence. The price of minimal invasiveness may be lower efficacy, but their use does not compromise further therapy, should it be needed.