title: Urinary epidermal growth factor and interleukin-6 levels in patients with painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis treated with cyclosporine or pentosan polysulfate sodium.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure urinary epidermal growth factor (EGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) patients randomized to either cyclosporine A (CyA) or pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS) treatment for 6 months and compare the results with treatment response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Urine samples from PBS/IC patients were collected before (n = 37) and after treatment (n = 34). The concentration of EGF was determined by an in-house immunofluorometric assay and that of IL-6 by the Immulite assay. The clinical response to treatment was determined by the subjective global response analysis (GRA, scale 1 to 6). Participants who reported categories 5 (much better) or 6 (cured) were considered responders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to GRA, 72% of CyA patients and 16% of PPS patient responded to their treatment (P <0.001). In the CyA group, post-treatment urinary EGF levels were significantly reduced (from 35 +/- 15.8 to 28.3 +/- 17.9 ng/mg creatinine; P <0.034), whereas the urinary IL-6 levels were not affected by CyA or PPS treatment in the whole group. In older patients (aged more than 52 years) who had higher IL-6 levels and longer duration of disease, these were reduced by successful CyA therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of PBS/IC patients with CyA resulted in significantly decreased urinary levels of EGF. Interleukin-6 levels did not change significantly in all treated patients after either CyA or PPS treatment, but in older patients the levels were reduced after CyA treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland. jukka.sairanen@hus.fi
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sairanen
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hotakainen
authors.forename: Teuvo L J
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tammela
authors.forename: Ulf-Håkan
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Stenman
authors.forename: Mirja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruutu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000652:urine*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010426:Pentosan Sulfuric Polyester; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D016572:Cyclosporine