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From the Desk of the Editor: "Advancing Medical Treatment for LUTS while Improving Patients Quality of Life"

We are in the middle of a very exciting time treating Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS).  The primary reason for this excitement is the new medical treatments that are available and on the horizon.  With most pharmacologic therapies, there are going to be "responders",  and some patients that fall short of the desired efficacy.  Some patients will tolerate therapies well, and others may have issues with unwanted side-effects. Patients can have multiple etiologies that result in their clinical symptom(s).  For these reasons, we desire varied tools in our armamentarium.  Having choices of effective medicines to provide will help alleviate our patients’ suffering, and improve their quality of life.  

The recently published article Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: What’s New in Medical Treatment? in the European Urology Focus Review explores some of these new treatments.  This was prepared, with co-authors, Dr. Peyronnet and Dr. Michel, to review emerging data and clinical trials on pharmacological treatments of lower urinary tract conditions.   Our basic science colleagues have spent decades understanding the physiology and biology of the lower urinary tract, leading to the discovery of molecules that are potential therapeutic targets.   After understanding the mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, toxicities of these drugs, human trials help us understand the efficacy, appropriate use, and safety of these emerging treatments.   It will be a good thing for our patients if the next review we write is about sequencing therapies, or choosing between different drugs, as that will signify that we have more tools available to help manage their LUTS.  

Written by:  Benjamin M. Brucker, MD

References:
Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: What’s New in Medical Treatment?

Read More:
AUA 2018 Oral Presentation:
Title: Extended First Uninterrupted Sleep Period (FUSP) in Nocturia Patients Following Treatment Desmopressin Using an Emulsified Microdose Formulation
Presenter: Dr. Benjamin Brucker, Asst. Prof. of Urology and Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York University Langone Medical Center