title: Combined intravesical sodium hyaluronate/chondroitin sulfate therapy for interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome: a prospective study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to verify the efficacy and safety of intravesical treatment combining sodium hyaluronate (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between February 2010 and May 2011, 20 consecutive women with IC/BPS were treated with intravesical instillations containing sodium HA (1.6%; 800 mg/50 ml) and sodium CS (2%; 1 g/50 ml) weekly for the first month, biweekly for the second month, and then monthly for at least 3 months. Before and after treatment, all patients filled in the Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index and Problem Index (ICSI/ICPI), the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 and the Pelvic Pain and Urgency/Frequency Patient Symptom Scale (PUF). Treatment efficacy was assessed by comparing the pre- and post-treatment mean scores of the three questionnaires using Student's t test (p value <0.05 was considered significant).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant mean decreases in ICSI (from 13.0 to 9.3; p = 0.0003), ICPI (from 11.35 to 8.85; p = 0.0078) and PUF (from 20.0 to 15.75; p = 0.0007) questionnaire scores were seen. No cases of side effects or complications were observed. The mean follow up was 5 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite the limitations of this study, the outcomes confirmed the role of combination therapy with HA and CS as a safe and effective option for the treatment of IC/BPS. Further randomized controlled studies with a higher number of patients and a longer follow-up period are needed to confirm these results.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, San Paolo Hospital, Savona, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giberti
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Pierluigi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortese
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schenone
keywords: chondroitin sulfate; hyaluronic acid; interstitial cystitis; intravesical administration; painful bladder syndrome
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