Variations in bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (IC) definitions, pathogenesis, diagnostics and treatment: a systematic review and evaluation of national and international guidelines.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) and bladder pain syndrome (BPS) are challenging and encompassing hypersensitivity disorders of the lower urinary tract. A variety of national and international guidelines have been published including guidance on nomenclature, definitions, etiopathology, diagnostics and treatment. A lack of universally established clinical guidance is apparent. The aim of this review is to evaluate key guidelines on this area of practice, identify variations, compare their recommendations and grade them using AGREE II.

Literature searches were performed using the PUBMED and CINAHL database from January 1, 1983, to December 1, 2018, referring to the search strategy of AUA. Ten national and international guidelines were included into the analysis. We assessed the guidelines with the updated AGREE II.

Symptoms congruent in all guidelines are: pain, pressure, discomfort and frequency, urgency and nocturia. Urinalysis is a prerequisite for diagnostics, cystoscopy for most and urodynamics not part of the routine assessment. Treatment options are recommended stepwise. The highest level of evidence and consensus was identified for oral therapies. Nine guidelines had an overall quality score ≥ 50% and three scored ≥ 70% (AUA, GG, RCOG).

The guidelines are congruent in symptom reporting, quite congruent in diagnostics and vary to a high degree on treatment recommendations. The complexity of BPS and emerging evidence indicate the need for regular updating of the guidelines and a wider consensus.

International urogynecology journal. 2019 May 09 [Epub]

Janna Pape, Gabriele Falconi, Thais Regina De Mattos Lourenco, Stergios K Doumouchtsis, Cornelia Betschart

Department of Gynecology, University Hospital of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, "San Bortolo" Hospital, Vicenza, Italy., Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Urogynaecology Division, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil., Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, London, UK., Department of Gynecology, University Hospital of Zurich, Frauenklinikstrasse 10, 8091, Zurich, Switzerland. .