The use of hyaluronic acid based bulking agent for stress urinary incontinence in women: A prospective controlled study

Background. Paraurethral injection of bulking agents in women is one of the minimally invasive technologies for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The effectiveness and safety of this method depend on the properties of injected substance. Aim. To evaluate the results of paraurethral injections of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether crosslinked high-density hyaluronic acid (EsteFILL® intim) in the treatment of SUI in women of reproductive and perimenopausal age. Materials and methods. We examined 18 patients aged 45.8±5.0 years with mild SUI in combination with grade I–II genital prolapse. After general clinical and special studies (urination diaries, King and PISQ-12 questionnaires, cough test, complex urodynamic study, urethrovesical segment and pelvic floor ultrasound with compression elastography) paraurethral injection of 4.0 ml EsteFILL® intim drug was performed. The results of therapy were studied 1 and 6 months after the procedure. Results. It was found that the injection of the drug contributed to an increase in the stiffness of paraurethral tissues by 1.5 times within 6 months after injection. According to the results of elastography before treatment, the average value of the strain ratio of paraurethral tissues of the proximal posterior wall of the urethra was 0.66±0.46 (0.42–0.91), after 1 and 6 months – 0.99±0.45 (0.76–1.23) and 1.00±0.36 (0.78–1.22) respectively; p=0.009 and 0.018. The effectiveness of EsteFILL® intim drug in the treatment of mild SUI in women after 1 and 6 months according to the results of a cough test was 88.2 and 71.4%, according to urination diaries – 88.9 and 66.7% respectively. During the entire observation period the patients noted a decrease in the degree of discomfort due to SUI and an improvement in the quality of life. Conclusion. Paraurethral injection of EsteFILL® intim drug helps to increase the stiffness of the urethra supporting structures in patients with SUI. This method of treating SUI is effective for women of reproductive and perimenopausal age with mild severity disease, who do not plan surgical treatment, are interested in achieving a quick result of therapy and are informed that the effect decreases over time after the procedure.