title: Oral methotrexate in the management of refractory interstitial cystitis.
abstract: To establish the safety and efficacy of low-dose oral methotrexate in treating refractory interstitial cystitis, 9 women who fulfilled internationally accepted criteria for the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis were enrolled in a prospective study. All had proven unresponsive to conventional treatment modalities. Assessment by pain score and frequency volume charts was performed pretreatment and up to 6 months during therapy. No significant adverse side effects were noted. At the end of follow-up, 4 women had noted a subjective improvement in bladder pain and wished to continue on methotrexate, 4 women noted little change and 1 woman reported a worsening of symptoms. Overall there was a significant reduction in pain score (p = 0.047) posttreatment. However, there was no significant difference in urinary frequency per 24 hours (p = 0.40), maximum voided volume (p = 0.089) or mean voided volume (p = 0.59). Methotrexate significantly improved bladder pain in women with interstitial cystitis, although no significant change was found in voiding pattern.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urogynaecology, Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Dwyer
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Maher
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Radford
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014563:Urodynamics
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008727:Methotrexate