Quantitative and Qualitative Changes in Neural Efferent Receptors, Collagen and Smooth Muscle Content in the Bladder, Following Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) in Humans

Twenty-five (25) spinal cord injury patients, as part of their annual cystoscopic screening for squamous cell carcinoma, will be included in this study. Approximately twenty-five (25) control patients without spinal cord injury and already scheduled for cystoscopic procedures (transurethral resection of the prostate TURP for benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH, transurethral resection of low-grade superficial bladder tumor TURBT, or lithotripsy of urinary stones) will be included in this study. Enrollment of additional patients is necessary to increase the statistical power to demonstrate significant difference between the study and control groups. Preliminary results revealed that electron microscopy was accurate at differentiating neurogenic detrusor muscle from normal. There was a strong trend towards increased type I/type III collagen expression in SCI patients versus normal, but recruitment of more patients is necessary to demonstrate unequivocally a statistical difference.

Patients will undergo flexible or rigid cystoscopy as well as selective cold cup biopsies of the posterior and lateral walls, and trigonal area of the bladder. Bladder mapping (diagram attached) will be performed to document specific areas biopsied. Tissue samples will be frozen for later RT-PCR analysis of collagen, smooth muscle, and efferent adrenergic receptor content and subtype. No anesthesia will be required in the SCI study patients. Control group patients will undergo anesthesia as indicated by their TURP or cystoscopic procedure.

Hemostasis will be achieved with a cautery electrode. Criteria for exclusion include active urinary tract infection identified by preoperative urinalysis. Patients with low-grade superficial bladder tumor, which has a classic cystoscopic appearance, is no longer excluded from the study since directed cold cup bladder biopsies at sites away from the visible tumor (obtained from the posterior, both lateral walls, as well as the trigone of the bladder) is now considered standard of care to rule out occult carcinoma-in-situ (CIS).

Prophylactic perioperative antibiotics will be employed. Patients will be followed in 1-2 weeks to evaluate their postoperative course.

Annual cystoscopy in spinal cord injured patients to screen for squamous cell carcinoma as well as preoperative cystoscopy in TURP, TURBT, and lithotripsy candidates is considered standard clinical care.