New agents for the medical treatment of interstitial cystitis.
Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a painful, sterile, disorder of the urinary bladder characterised by urgency, frequency, nocturia and pain. IC occurs primarily in women but also in men with recent findings indicating that chronic, abacterial prostatitis may be a variant of this condition. The prevalence of IC has ranged from about 8 - 60 cases/100,000 female patients depending on the population evaluated. About 10% of patients have severe symptoms that are associated with Hunner's ulcers on bladder biopsy; the rest could be grouped in those with or without bladder inflammation. Symptoms of IC are exacerbated by stress, certain foods and ovulatory hormones. Many patients also experience allergies, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and migraines. There have been various reports indicating dysfunction of the bladder glycosaminoglycan (GAG) protective layer and many publications showing a high number of activated bladder mast cells. Increasing evidence suggests that neurogenic inflammation and/or neuropathic pain is a major component of IC pathophysiology. Approved treatments so far include intravesical administration of dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) or oral pentosanpolysulphate (PPS). New treatments focus on the combined use of drugs that modulate bladder sensory nerve stimulation (neurolytic agents), inhibit neurogenic activation of mast cells, or provide urothelial cytoprotection, together with new drugs with anti-inflammatory activity.
Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts University School of Medicine, 136 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02111, USA. theoharis.theoharides@tufts.edu
T C
TC
Theoharides
G R
GR
Sant
D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002807:Chondroitin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018013:Receptors, Neuropeptide; D002807:Chondroitin