ABSTRACT

Background:

Botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) is produced by the anaerobic organism Clostridium Botulinum. BoNT has increasingly diverse uses in medicine due to its ability to relax muscles by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine. There are now a number of established and emerging uses for BoNT.

Objective:

This article provides an overview of the current therapeutic uses of BoNT in urology.

Discussion:

BoNT is now used in the treatment of a number neurogenic and non-neurogenic lower urinary tract disorders. The efficacy of BoNT, combined with its low risk profile, makes it a promising alternative when conservative medical therapies fail and surgical management is not appropriate. At present the use of BoNT in urology is ‘off label’. It is anticipated that within the next 12 months, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will approve BoNT use in neurogenic bladder overactivity.