Intravesical hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulphate for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis: Long-term treatment results - Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS:Reconstruction of the glycosaminoglycan layer plays a role in the successful treatment of bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC).

Intravesical instillations of hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulphate (CS) have given results in the short term. We hypothesise that these benefits continue in the longer term.

METHODS: With the aim of evaluating this therapy over a longer period we treated 12 BPS/IC patients refractory to other treatments with a combination of HA 1.6 % and CS 2.0 % over a period of 3 years assessing symptoms and quality of life using a visual analogue scale, 3-day voiding diaries and validated questionnaires.

RESULTS: Improvements in bladder function were sustained for 3 years (mean number of daily voids decreased from 17.8 at baseline to 15.5 at 9 months and 11.9 at 3 years, and mean volume per void from 136.8 ml at baseline to 143.9 ml at 9 months and 180.9 ml at 3 years). Quality of life assessments confirmed these improvements.

CONCLUSIONS: Intravesical instillations of HA and CS produced a sustained improvement of the symptomatology, up to 3 years, in patients with BPS/IC refractory to previous treatments. Further confirmation would be expected from larger controlled trials.

Written by:
Cervigni M, Natale F, Nasta L, Mako A. Are you the author?
Department of Urogynecology, San Carlo Hospital, Via Aurelia 275, 00165, Rome, Italy.

Reference: Int Urogynecol J. 2012 May 9. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1007/s00192-012-1742-y

PubMed Abstract
PMID: 22569687

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