The clinical diagnosis of
overactive bladder (OAB) greatly varies and is based on subjective symptoms. A more objective method to diagnose and assess therapeutic outcome in OAB patients, especially for health care providers not trained in urology, needs to be found. Evidence has shown that urinary
proteins such as
nerve growth factor (
NGF) and
prostaglandin E(2) levels increase in patients with OAB,
bladder outlet obstruction, and detrusor overactivity. Urinary
NGF level increases physiologically in normal subjects at urge to void, but increases pathologically in OAB patients at a small bladder volume and with a sensation of urgency. Recent studies have shown that patients with OAB dry and OAB wet have significantly higher urinary
NGF levels compared with control groups and patients with increased bladder sensation. Urinary
NGF levels decrease after
antimuscarinic therapy and further decrease after detrusor
botulinum toxin injections in refractory OAB. Urinary
NGF level could be a potential
biomarker for diagnosis of OAB and assessment of the
therapeutic effect of
antimuscarinic therapy. The latest medical advances in this field are reviewed herein.