Combined intravesical sodium hyaluronate/chondroitin sulfate therapy for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: a prospective study. (August 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Giberti, Claudio; Gallo, Fabrizio; Cortese, Pierluigi; Schenone, Maurizio
• Is Part Of: Therapeutic advances in urology. Volume 5:Number 4(2013)
• Page Start: 175
• Page End: 179
• Publication Date: 2013-08
• Subjects: chondroitin sulfate -- hyaluronic acid -- interstitial cystitis -- intravesical administration -- painful bladder syndrome; Urology -- Periodicals; Urologic Diseases -- therapy -- Periodicals; Genital Diseases, Male -- therapy -- Periodicals; Urologie -- Périodiques; 616.6005
• DOI: 10.1177/1756287213490052
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1756-2872

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy and safety of intravesical treatment combining sodium hyaluronate (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Methods: Between February 2010 and May 2011, 20 consecutive women with IC/BPS were treated with intravesical instillations containing sodium HA (1.6%; 800 mg/50 ml) and sodium CS (2%; 1 g/50 ml) weekly for the first month, biweekly for the second month, and then monthly for at least 3 months. Before and after treatment, all patients filled in the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index and Problem Index (ICSI/ICPI), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and the Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency Patient Symptom Scale (PUF). Treatment efficacy was assessed by comparing the pre- and post-treatment mean scores of the three questionnaires using Student's t test ( p value <0.05 was considered significant). Results: Statistically significant mean decreases in ICSI (from 13.0 to 9.3; p = 0.0003), ICPI (from 11.35 to 8.85; p = 0.0078) and PUF (from 20.0 to 15.75; p = 0.0007) questionnaire scores were seen. No cases of side effects or complications were observed. The mean follow up was 5 months. Conclusions: Despite the limitations of this study, the outcomes confirmed the role of combination therapy with HA and CS as a safe and effective option for the treatment of IC/BPS. Further randomized controlled studies with a higher number of patients and a longer follow-up period are needed to confirm these results.