Mirabegron a valuable drug for management of irritative symptoms after TURBT: Study

Mirabegron, sold under the brand name Myrbetriq among others, is a medication used to treat overactive bladder. Its benefits are similar to antimuscarinic medication such as solifenacin or tolterodine.

A group of researchers from China conducted a study to explore the efficacy and safety of mirabegron in treating irritative symptoms induced by intravesical immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) after transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT).

The researchers randomly divided a total of 160 patients subjected to transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT) into the mirabegron group and placebo group with 80 patients in each group. Then, the patients were administered 25 mg mirabegron or placebo daily, starting the first day after Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) infusion. The first BCG perfusion was conducted at least 2 weeks after transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT). The 3-day bladder diaries were completed in all patients, 1 day before Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) perfusion, and on the 1st, 6th, and 13th days after the first Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) perfusion. Overactive bladder symptom scores were completed 1 day before Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) perfusion, and on the 6th and 13th days after the first Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) perfusion.

The results of the study are as follows:

· Symptom scores of bladder hyperactivity were significantly different between the two groups.

· Also, the frequency of nocturia, pollakiuria, micturition urgency, urinary incontinence and was significantly lower in group 1 than that in group two.

Thus, the researchers concluded that their findings demonstrate that mirabegron is a valuable clinical drug for the management of irritative symptoms after transurethral resection of bladder tumours (TURBT) with subsequent intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) perfusion.

Reference:

A study titled, "Mirabegron improves the irritative symptoms caused by BCG immunotherapy after transurethral resection of bladder tumours" by Sun K et. al published in Cancer Medicine.

DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4278