The effect of diclofenac sodium on bladder detrusor contractility and its clinical implication

Background: Overactive bladder symptom (OAB) seriously influences a person’s life including mobility, workrelated activities, sleep, domestic, and sexual life. Many patients with OAB symptoms have insufficient improvement from usual treatment.

Objective: To investigate the effects of Diclofenac Sodium (DS) on bladder detrusor contractility and on the clinical symptoms associated with detrusor over-activity of patients following prostatectomy.

Methods: Bladders dissected from guinea pigs were used to study the effect of DS on uninhibited bladder contractions in vitro. Bladder detrusor contraction was evoked by histamine. The tension of bladder detrusor and the frequency and amplitude of bladder detrusor contraction were measured. In vivo efficacy of DS was then measured in patients after prostatectomy by using the symptom scoring system and by detecting the duration of the efficacy.

Results: DS significantly inhibited the contraction of detrusor evoked by histamine in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of bladder detrusor contraction by DS was statistically significantly stronger compared to that by normal saline (NS) and was analogous to that by verapamil in vitro. The total effective rates of DS were a little higher than intravenous verapamil in vivo. The complete remission rate and the mean effect-lasting time of rectal diclofenac were significantly higher than that of intravenous verapamil. No significant side effect was observed in patients with DS treatment.

Conclusion: DS significantly inhibited the contraction of bladder in vivo and in vitro. DS could act as a useful agent for the relief of overactive bladder symptom post-prostatectomy.