Urologic applications of botulinum toxin therapy for voiding dysfunction.

Botulinum toxin is primarily a presynaptic neuromuscular blocking agent inducing selective and reversible muscle weakness up to several months when injected intramuscularly in small quantities. The clinical use of botulinum toxin type-A has gained widespread acceptance and application for numerous adult and pediatric spasticity syndromes. This has led to the urologic adoption of this minimally invasive therapy for the treatment of idiopathic and neurogenic detrusor overactivity, interstitial cystitis, detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia, urinary retention, and prostatic conditions. Outlined below is an overview of the clinical adoption of this therapy for the treatment of various dysfunctions of the lower urinary tract.