The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of 200 U intradetrusor injected OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®, Allergan, Inc.) (20 sites, trigone sparing) for neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) and its role on reducing autonomic dysreflexia (AD) in those with chronic, traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI). In clinical practice, urinary bladder dysfunctions are commonly associated with episodes of AD. If AD is misdiagnosed or poorly managed, it may result in myocardial infarction, stroke, seizure, intracerebral hemorrhaging or even death. Reducing AD would dramatically improve the health and well-being of Canadians with SCI, and positively impact health care costs. There are an estimated 7,343 hospital re-admissions due to SCI-related conditions in Canada every year, with an estimated 5-year cost of $661 million. Reducing hospital re-admissions for secondary complications of SCI by only 10% over this time period could result in a costs savings of $66 million for Canada.

Considering these statistics, the present study could be a first attempt to evaluate the economic impact of using Botox® to manage the urinary bladder following SCI. We will be able to examine its impact on episodes of AD and consequently calculate the cost saving for the Canadian health system. A significant number of individuals with SCI will require frequent emergency room visits due to episodes of uncontrolled AD that originate predominately from the urinary bladder. There is clinical evidence demonstrating that costs of bladder management following SCI will depend on the understanding of the volumes that the urinary bladder can safely hold. This is one of the positive outcomes that have been established in previous trials of Botox® therapy for the neurogenic bladder.

Hypothesis: 200 U of intradetrusor injected Botox® (20 sites, trigone sparing) for neurogenic bladder detrusor hyperreflexia will decrease the severity of AD in individuals with SCI one month following treatment.

Purpose: This study is a Phase IV pilot study. A phase IV study is a study of an approved drug or treatment conducted to obtain information regarding the drug's or treatment's, benefits and optimal use. The investigators will assess the efficacy of Botox® on reducing autonomic dysreflexia (AD) during regular treatment for neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) in those with spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of the study is not to prove the positive/negative effects of Botox® injections on urinary bladder function (this has been previously been established in randomized controlled clinical trials), but to gain information if this intervention could ameliorate changes in arterial blood pressure (namely to prevent AD) that commonly occurs due to NDO. This study will particularly determine whether established Botox® therapy for NDO could decrease the severity of episodes of AD by at least 50%.

Objective 1: The primary objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of intradetrusor injected Botox® on amelioration of episodes of AD in individuals with chronic SCI.

Primary outcome:

To assess the effect of Botox® on reducing AD as per the average systolic blood pressure change (maximum systolic blood pressure subtracted the average supine baseline systolic blood pressure) induced by urodynamics.

The end point of the trial will be a decrease of severity of AD in 50% of participants. By definition AD is is a constellation of signs and/or symptoms in SCI at and usually above T6 in response to noxious or non-noxious stimuli below the level of injury defined by an increase in systolic BP (>20 mmHg above baseline), including headache, flushing, piloerection, stuffy nose, sweating above the level of the lesion, vasoconstriction below the level of the lesion, and dysrhythmias.

Episodes of AD can be triggered by a variety of causes, including those not related to bladder function. In order to be more focused, the investigators specifically selected as our primary outcome a decrease in systolic blood pressure when episodes of AD are triggered by urodynamics, one of the known iatrogenic causes of AD.

Secondary outcomes:

Objective 2. To assess the effect of Botox® on reducing AD severity and frequency during 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with daily catheterizations.

Objective 3. To undertake a retrospective cost analysis of Botox® treatment on AD care following six months of treatment.

Objective 4. To assess the effect of Botox® on reducing AD signs and symptoms as per responses on the AD health-related quality of life (AD HR-QoL) questionnaire .

Objective 5. To assess the effect of Botox® on improving bladder-related quality of life as per the incontinence quality of life (I-QOL) questionnaire.

The investigators will utilize previously established protocols in Canada for the treatment of NDO with Botox ® injections.

Injections will be performed by qualified urologists (Dr. Mark Nigro, Vancouver, BC; Dr. Daniel Rapoport - Vancouver and Richmond, BC, and Dr. Alex Kavanagh, Vancouver, BC) at designated centres. Individuals will be recruited and informed consent will be obtained. The severity of AD will be established before treatment during standardized urodynamic /cystometry procedures (Drs. Nigro, Rapoport, and Kavanagh) with continuous blood pressure and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring (Dr. Krassioukov). Additionally, 24 hr ambulatory blood pressure and symptoms/severity of AD during catheterization and bowel routines will be recorded.

OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®, Allergan, Inc.) Total dose (per patient): 200U Number of cycles: 1

Treatments will be conducted according to the previously established protocol, 200 units of Botox® with intradetrusor injections under cystoscopic guided injections into 20 sites, trigone sparing. One month later, urodynamics with continuous blood pressure and ECG measurements will be repeated, as well as 24 hour blood pressure monitoring and symptoms recording. Finally, the AD HR-QoL questionnaire will be administered to evaluate the effect of Botox® on AD and quality of life. I-QOL will be administered to evaluate the effect of Botox® on improving bladder related QoL.

Primary efficacy variable:

Severity of AD during urodynamics testing following the Botox® treatment. Pre - post comparison. Urodynamics evaluation will be conducted pre and post (1 month) Botox® injection (200 units into the 20 sites, trigone sparing) with continuous blood pressure and heart rate monitoring.

Secondary efficacy variables:

1. 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring will be conducted 1 week before Botox® injections and 1 month post Botox® treatment. Daily variations of blood pressure and highest blood pressure will be measured during catheterizations and bowel routines.

2. A retrospective chart analysis of hospital admissions related to AD 6 months prior to receiving treatments of Botox® therapy for bladder management, and 6 months following the Botox® treatment, and evaluate the economical impact on health care. Cost analyses will be undertaken in collaboration with Dr. Stirling from the Centre for Clinical Epidemiology and Evaluation, School of Population and Public Health at UBC. Dr. Stirling is currently collaborating with Dr. Krassioukov's CIHR Cardiovascular health and SCI team grant.

   The objective of the cost analysis will be to estimate direct medical costs associated with admissions for episodes of AD before and after treatments with Botox® for the neurogenic bladder. This approach will establish baseline estimates that are current unknown, and allow for determination of cost consequences directly attributable to the Botox® intervention. The care cost analysis is a 3-stage process: determining relevant resource items, collecting data regarding units of resource use, and identifying appropriate unit costs. Patient-specific total cost estimates are derived by aggregating improved cardiovascular outcomes (decrease in severity of AD by 50%) each unit of resource multiplied by the respective unit cost. The benefits of patient-level cost data are well documented (e.g., data cleaning, investigating sources of variability). Accordingly, the planned micro-costing exercise will generate patient-level cost estimates for all admissions for episodes of AD in both the pre-treatment (6 months retrospective chart analysis) and post-treatment (6 months analysis) phases. This study design overcomes methodological problems associated with previous costing research for SCI, like focusing on single centers/providers or relying on patient recall of health care use.

3. Statistical analysis. The primary outcome will include cardiovascular parameters and include baseline heart rate and arterial blood pressure (before and during urodynamics). Additionally, arterial blood pressure and heart rate lability will be examined by 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and via questionnaire to assess participant reported frequency and severity of AD and its impact on QoL before and after Botox® and bladder related health.

4. The AD HR-QoL questionnaire will assess the impact of Botox® on improving AD-related QoL compared to baseline (i.e. does AD HR-QoL improve following treatment with Botox®).This questionnaire is based on a modified version of the reliable AD Following SCI Questionnaire.

5. The I- QOL questionnaire, will also be utilized to assess the impact of Botox® on improving bladder-related QoL.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Inpatients or outpatients with SCI (AIS A-D)
• Male and female
• Age between 18 - 65
• Chronic, traumatic SCI (> 1 year post injury)
• Affected by urinary incontinence
• We are expecting individuals with the following levels of injury:
• individuals with spinal segment thoracic (T) 6 and above (with history of episodes of AD) Presence of AD will be determined using a validated AD questionnaire.
• Good command and comprehension of English
• Capable of giving informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age older than 66 years
• Documented traumatic brain injury
• Acute co-morbidities
• Other diseases of the neural system
• Previous genitourinary disease or operation,
• Current urinary tract infection
• Multiple injury levels
• Previous history of systemic illness, such as cardiovascular diseases (as hypertension and cardiac infarction), cerebrovascular accident, diabetes, etc
• Poor command of English language
• Pregnancy