title: Effect of low-dose triple therapy using gabapentin, amitriptyline, and a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug for overactive bladder symptoms in patients with bladder pain syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients with bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) can have pain as a main symptom and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms that are directly or indirectly related to a major mechanism that causes pain. The primary purpose of this study is firstly to identify the prevalence rate of OAB symptoms in patients with BPS/IC, secondly to identify changes in OAB symptoms after low-dose triple therapy, and thirdly to build a theoretical foundation to improve quality of life for patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who met the inclusion criteria of BPS/IC through basic tests including the O'Leary-Sant symptom index, overactive bladder symptom score (OABSS), and visual analog scale (VAS) were identified. Treatment-based changes in OAB symptoms were identified using the IC Symptom Index and IC Problem Index (ICSI/ICPI), OABSS, and VAS before, and 4 and 12 weeks after low-dose triple therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients consisted of 3 men and 20 women, and their mean age was 61.9 years (41.0-83.2 years). Comparing values before treatment, and 4 and 12 weeks after treatment (baseline vs. 4 weeks to baseline vs. 12 weeks), the rates of improvement were as follows: ICSI, 44.2% to 63.7%; ICPI, 46.9% to 59.4%; OABSS, 34.3% to 58.2%; and VAS, 53.6% to 75.0%, which showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). However, comparing values at 4 and 12 weeks after treatment (4 weeks vs. 12 weeks), the ICSI and VAS showed a statistically significant decrease (P<0.05). The ICPI and OABSS showed slight improvement, but no statistically significant differences (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low-dose triple therapy in BPS/IC results in a clear decrease in OAB symptoms in the first 4 weeks after treatment, and additional treatment for 8 weeks had a partial effect with varied statistical significances depending on the questionnaires.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Wonkwang University College of Medicine, Iksan, Korea.
authors.forename: Whi-An
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Tae Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Jea Whan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dong Youp
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Hee Jong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
keywords: Bladder pain syndrome; Interstitial cystitis; Overactive bladder