WASHINGTON, DC USA (UroToday.com) - Maria Celso and colleagues from Florence, Italy investigated the efficacy of intravesical instillation of the naturally occurring peptide nociceptin/orphanin FQ. Nociceptin or ophanin FQ is the endogenous ligand for the nociceptin receptor. It is an opioid-related peptide and a potent anti-analgesic. It acts at the nociceptin receptor in the central and peripheral nervous system where it modulates nociception and may be involved in the phenomenon of opioid-induced hyperalgesia. Within the central nervous system its action can be either similar or opposite to those of opioids depending on their location. Twenty-three patients with no evidence of Hunner’s lesions on endoscopy received twice weekly instillations. Benefit was perceived for three months after the one month course of twice-weekly instillations. O’Leary Sant Problem Score and visual analogue pain scores documented improvement. Fifteen of 23 patients were satisfied at the conclusion of the trial.
Presented by Maria Celso, et al. at the American Urological Association (AUA) Annual Meeting - May 14 - 19, 2011 - Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC USA
Reported for UroToday by Philip M. Hanno, MD, MPH, Professor of Urology in the Division of Urology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
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