title: Time to initiation of pentosan polysulfate sodium treatment after interstitial cystitis diagnosis: effect on symptom improvement.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic, debilitating condition that is often associated with late diagnosis and a delay in initiation of appropriate IC-specific therapy. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the length of time from initial diagnosis to start of treatment impacts subsequent symptom improvement.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was conducted in 128 patients with IC who had been treated with pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) 300 mg/day for 32 weeks in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group clinical trial. Outcome measures included the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI) and the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index (ICPI). Early treatment was defined as treatment initiation 6 months or less after IC diagnosis, whereas late treatment was defined as treatment initiation 24 months or more after IC diagnosis. Efficacy data were analyzed by using the intent-to-treat, last-observation-carried-forward population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the end of the study, mean changes from baseline in total ICSI and ICPI scores (+/- SEM) for early treatment (6 months or less) versus late treatment (24 months or more) were 3.97 +/- 0.59 versus 2.15 +/- 0.70 (P = 0.0472) and 3.94 +/- 0.56 versus 1.77 +/- 0.63 (P = 0.0117), respectively. Similar trends for both measures were observed when examining other times from IC diagnosis (3 months or less versus 24 months or more, 3 months or less versus 36 months or more, and 6 months or less versus 36 months or more).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initiation of PPS treatment within 6 months of establishing the diagnosis of IC may be associated with greater improvement in patient symptoms and symptom bother.
authors.affiliation: Queen's University, Department of Urology, Kingston General Hospital, 76 Stuart Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L2V7. jcn@queensu.ca
authors.forename: J Curtis
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Kaufman
authors.forename: Huabin F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Peter K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Sand
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester