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Analysis of collagen status in premenopausal nulliparous women with genuine stress incontinence

  1. Declan P. Keane Research Registrar 1,*,
  2. Tevor J. Sims Chief Laboratory Technician 2,
  3. Paul Abrams Consultant (Urology) 1,
  4. Allen J. Bailey Professor 2

Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12055.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 104, Issue 9, pages 994–998, September 1997

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How to Cite

Keane, D. P., Sims, T. J., Abrams, P. and Bailey, A. J. (1997), Analysis of collagen status in premenopausal nulliparous women with genuine stress incontinence. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 104: 994–998. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb12055.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol

  2. 2

    Muscle and Collagen Research Group, University of Bristol, Langford

*Correspondence: Dr D. Keane, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005
  3. Received 13 February 1997 Accepted 11 June 1997

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Objective To determine if differences exist in the collagen status of premenopausal nulliparous women with genuine stress incontinence compared with continent controls.

Design Thirty-six premenopausal nulliparous women with urodynamically-proven genuine stress incontinence were compared with 25 controls. All the women studied had a periurethral vaginal biopsy taken of approximately 30–50 mg in wet weight. This biopsy was then analysed to determine the collagen content, the type I:III collagen ratio and the collagen cross-link content.

Setting A tertiary referral urodynamic unit.

Results The nulliparous women with genuine stress incontinence had significantly less collagen in their tissues (P < 0.0001) compared with the continent controls. In addition, there was a decreased ratio of type I to type III collagen (P= 0.0008), and the cross-link content was also significantly reduced in the women with genuine stress incontinence (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion Genuine stress incontinence is present in a significant number of women before childbirth. The aetiology of their incontinence appears to be due to a defect in their connective tissue, with both a quantitative and qualitative reduction in their collagen.

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