Aims
To examine the differences in urinary cytokines IL6 and lactoferrin in OAB patients compared to controls, with references to microscopy of urine and enhanced quantitative urine culture.
Background
Contemporary studies have discredited the
Conclusion
The OAB phenotype may encompass patients with UTI that is being overlooked because of the failure of standard screening methods.
Methods
A blinded, prospective cohort study with normal controls using six repeated measures, achieved two-monthly, over 12 months.
Results
The differences between patients and controls in urine IL6 (F = 49.0, p < .001) and lactoferrin (F = 228.5, p < .001) were significant and of a magnitude to have clinical implications. These differences were for lactoferrin correlated to symptoms (9.3, p = .003); for both to pyuria (IL6 F = 66.2, p < .001, Lactoferrin F = 73.9, p < .001); and for IL6 microbial abundance (F = 5.1, p = .024). The pathological markers had been missed by urinary dipsticks and routine MSU culture.