title: A pilot open label study of Cystoprotek in interstitial cystitis.
abstract: Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a disorder of the urinary bladder characterized by urgency, frequency, nocturia and suprapubic pain. IC occurs primarily in women and symptoms are exacerbated by stress, ovulatory hormones and certain foods. IC pathogenesis is unknown, but the most consistent findings involve some dysfunction of the bladder glycosaminoglycan (GAG) protective layer and a high number of activated bladder mast cells. There is no effective therapy even through intravesical administration of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or oral pentosanpolysulfate (PPS) have had variable success. A dietary supplement, CystoProtek, was formulated with the natural GAG components chondroitin sulfate and sodium hyaluronate to provide urothelial cytoprotection, together with the flavonoid quercetin that has anti-inflammatory properties and inhibits activation of mast cells. Thirty-seven female patients diagnosed by the NIDDK criteria who had failed all forms of therapy took six softgel CystoProtek capsules per day for 6 months. Global assessment scale was reduced from 9.0 +/- 2.9 to 4.3 +/- 2.1 (p < 0.05); moreover, the O'Leary/Sant Symptom Index decreased from 15.3 +/- 3.1 to 6.9 +/- 4.2 (p < 0.05) and the Problem Index from 13.1 +/- 3.7 to 5.4 +/- 4.0 (p <0.05). These results are very promising and warrant a larger study that may permit further analyses with respect to other, especially atopic, comorbid diseases.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Biochemistry, and Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA. theoharis.theoharides@tufts.edu
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Theoharides
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Sant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000009:adverse effects; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D006025:Glycosaminoglycans; C501944:chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate drug combination; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates