Environmental hazards and the risk of development of idiopathic urethral strictures

Charles H. Schlaepfer; Joemy M. Ramsay; Jeremy B. Myers; Michael B. Christensen; James M. Hotaling; Tarah Woodle; Lola P. Lozano; Bradley A. Erickson; Jane T. Kurtzman

doi:10.21037/tau-2026-0338

Back

Environmental hazards and the risk of development of idiopathic urethral strictures

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Environmental hazards and the risk of development of idiopathic urethral strictures

Charles H. Schlaepfer, Joemy M. Ramsay, Jeremy B. Myers, Michael B. Christensen, James M. Hotaling, Tarah Woodle, Lola P. Lozano, Bradley A. Erickson and Jane T. Kurtzman

Translational andrology and urology, Vol.15(7), 233

07/2026

DOI: 10.21037/tau-2026-0338

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.21037/tau-2026-0338View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Background: Though idiopathic urethral strictures are a common form of strictures, little is understood about the pathophysiology leading to their development. This retrospective cohort study sought to analyze the risk of environmental toxins on the development of stricture disease. Methods: Using the Utah Population Database (UPDB), we identified patients with idiopathic urethral strictures born between 1996–2021. Each case was matched 1:1 with controls, based on year of birth and location. Models compared historical air pollution exposure data between the cohorts. Environmental exposures were analyzed in the prenatal period, the first year of life, and the 5 years prior to diagnosis and individual exposures were weighted by the risk of stricture development. Results: We identified 2,048 patients with urethral strictures, diagnosed between 1996 and 2021 and were matched to 1,939 controls for a total cohort of 3,987 men. There was no difference in risk of stricture development for exposure prenatally and within the 5 years prior to diagnosis. The relative risk of cumulative exposures in the first year of life was 1.21 (1.07–1.36, P=0.002) in the development of stricture disease. On univariate analysis, the toxins most associated with stricture development within the first year of life were ethylbenzene, tetrachloroethylene, and molybdenum trioxide. Conclusions: Idiopathic urethral stricture is a common presentation of anterior urethral stricture disease (aUSD) but the mechanism is not well understood. Environmental exposures within the first year of life were associated with an increased risk of the development of a stricture, indicating a potential role within broader inflammatory pathways associated with urethral strictures.

Urethral stricture

environment

air pollution

urethroplasty

inflammasome

Details

Title: Subtitle: Environmental hazards and the risk of development of idiopathic urethral strictures
Creators: Charles H. Schlaepfer
Joemy M. Ramsay
Jeremy B. Myers
Michael B. Christensen
James M. Hotaling
Tarah Woodle
Lola P. Lozano
Bradley A. Erickson
Jane T. Kurtzman
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Translational andrology and urology, Vol.15(7), 233
DOI: 10.21037/tau-2026-0338
ISSN: 2223-4683
eISSN: 2223-4691
Publisher: AME Publishing Company
Number of pages: 1
Grant note: the University of Utah Division of Urology, and was partially supported for the UPDB through grant P30 CA2014 from the National Cancer Institute, University of Utah and from the University of Utah's program in Personalized Health and Utah Clinical and Tran
Funding: The study was supported by the University of Utah Division of Urology, and was partially supported for the UPDB through grant P30 CA2014 from the National Cancer Institute, University of Utah and from the University of Utah's program in Personalized Health and Utah Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
Language: English
Date published: 07/2026
Academic Unit: Urology
Record Identifier: 9985214913802771

Metrics

1 Record Views