Improvement in interstitial cystitis symptom scores during treatment with oral L-arginine.
OBJECTIVE
Urinary nitric oxide synthase activity is decreased in patients with interstitial cystitis. Since nitric oxide may be an important determinant of the symptoms and immunological responses associated with interstitial cystitis, patients with this disease were treated with oral L-arginine, the substrate for nitric oxide synthase.


METHODS
Ten patients took 1.5 gm. L-arginine orally daily for 6 months. Interstitial cystitis symptoms were surveyed before and during the 6-month trial.


RESULTS
Oral L-arginine treatment resulted in a significant decrease in urinary voiding discomfort, lower abdominal pain and vaginal/urethral pain. Urinary frequency during the day and night also significantly decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
This self-controlled study provides evidence that long-term oral L-arginine improves interstitial cystitis related symptoms.
Smith
S D
SD
Department of Surgery, Yale University, School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Wheeler
M A
MA
Foster
H E
HE
Weiss
R M
RM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
D001120:Arginine