Intravesicular carboprost for the treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis after marrow transplantation.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the minimal active dose and extent of activity of intravesicular carboprost for the treatment of hemorrhagic cystitis after marrow transplantation.


METHODS
Twenty-four adults with grade 3 or 4 hemorrhagic cystitis were treated. All but 2 had failed other local therapy. Treatment was initiated at a median of 32 days post-transplant. Eleven patients received carboprost intravesicularly at 0.2 mg/dL for 60 minutes every 6 hours, and the dose was escalated every 24 hours until a dose of 1.0 mg/dL was reached unless a response was achieved. Thirteen additional patients were treated at an initial dose of 0.8 mg/dL, with escalation to 1.0 mg/dL after four doses in the absence of a response.


RESULTS
Overall, 15 of the 24 patients responded. In the dose-escalation setting, 0.8 mg/dL was the minimal active dose. The total response rate was 62% with doses at or above 0.8 mg/dL and 18% at lower doses. All but one response occurred with 7 or fewer days of therapy, and 9 patients relapsed later. Four additional patients were salvaged following cystoscopy with clot evacuation with or without alum or formalin instillation. In all but 1 patient, bladder spasms developed during treatment with carboprost, but were not sufficiently severe to discontinue therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Intravesicular carboprost at 1.0 mg/dL every 6 hours for no more than 7 days should be considered for a randomized study for treatment of refractory hemorrhagic cystitis. Cystoscopic examination and evacuation of clots prior to therapy may be required to achieve the full benefit of this treatment.
Ippoliti
C
C
Department of Hematology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston.
Przepiorka
D
D
Mehra
R
R
Neumann
J
J
Wood
J
J
Claxton
D
D
Gajewski
J
J
Khouri
I
I
van Besien
K
K
Andersson
B
B
D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002260:Carboprost / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003556:Cystitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D002260:Carboprost