title: Advances in the treatment of interstitial cystitis.
abstract: Recent years have brought dramatic advances in the clinician's ability to offer effective pharmacotherapy to patients who have interstitial cystitis. Medical treatments have been developed and applied to reduce the interstitial cystitis symptoms of pelvic pain and urinary urgency/frequency, and to address underlying causes of the disorder. In addition, advances in the understanding of the natural history of interstitial cystitis have revealed that it is insidiously progressive and the classical definition--rare, severe and difficult to treat--is in fact the relatively uncommon, advanced stage of a disorder that affects most individuals in a mild-to-moderate and readily treatable form. This recognition has led to the identification of large numbers of previously unsuspected cases of interstitial cystitis, and the successful treatment of many individuals in the early stages of interstitial cystitis when it is far more responsive to therapy. A heparinoid-based multimodal medical regimen can effectively control symptoms and address disease pathophysiology in the majority of cases. Intravesical therapeutic solutions are new and promising adjunctive therapies that can offer immediate symptom relief during symptom flares, and for patients who are just beginning medical therapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology (8897), University of California San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, CA 92103-8897, USA. plane@ucsd.edu
authors.forename: C Lowell
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Parsons
mesh_terms: D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006496:Heparinoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D006496:Heparinoids; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate; D008012:Lidocaine; C024353:resiniferatoxin; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide