Treatment of interstitial cystitis with intravesical heparin.
OBJECTIVE
To control the symptoms of interstitial cystitis with chronic self-administered intravesical heparin and determine whether the drug's continued use can sustain remission.


METHODS
A total of 48 patients were selected to undergo intravesical heparin therapy, 10,000 units in 10 ml sterile water, three times per week for 3 months. For patients who attained a good clinical remission, therapy was available for up to a further 9 months.


RESULTS
At 3 months 27 of 48 patients (56%) attained good clinical remissions. All were offered continuous therapy and 23 elected for an additional 3 months. Twenty of the 23 continued in remission. Sixteen of these patients elected to have a further 6 months of therapy (12 months total) and 15 of 16 remained in remission.


CONCLUSIONS
In over half of the patients studied, intravesical heparin controls the symptoms of interstitial cystitis with continued improvement even after one year of therapy.
Division of Urology, University of California, San Diego Medical Center.
C L
CL
Parsons
T
T
Housley
J D
JD
Schmidt
D
D
Lebow
D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003556:Cystitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012646:Self Administration; D014554:Urination / Q000187:drug effects
D006493:Heparin