Switching from onabotulinum toxin A to abobotulinum toxin A for treating detrusor overactivity in spinal cord injured patient, does it really work?

[AIM] To assess the efficacy of switching to Abobotulinumtoxin A (ATA) intradetrusor injections (IDI) after failure of Onabotulinumtoxin A (OTA) IDI for the treatment of neurogenic detrusor overactivity in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI).

[MATERIALS AND METHODS] A single-centre retrospective chart review study. All SCI patients who started OTA IDI after 2011 and had an ATA IDI switch were included. The primary outcome was the clinical and urodynamic efficacy of the switch to ATA IIDs at the last follow-up. Secondary outcomes were initial efficacy, duration of ATA treatment, and patient outcome including the occurrence of augmentation enterocystoplasty at last follow-up.

[RESULTS] Sixty-two patients were included. Eighteen patients (28.9%) were initially responders to ATA IDI. Nine patients (14.5%) remained responders at last follow-up after a median of 17 months (AE 8.8-29). Thirty-two patients (51.6%) had had or were awaiting augmentation enterocystoplasty with a follow-up time of 18.5 months (IQR 8-27). Eleven patients (17.7%) were on ATA IDI with low efficacy. Seven patients (11.3%) were switched back to OTA and 3 patients (4.8%) changed their voiding pattern.

[CONCLUSION] Switching from OTA to ATA toxin for IDI in the treatment of detrusor overactivity after spinal cord injury have long-term efficacy for a limited number of patients but may delay the need for surgery.