Urine alkalization improves the problems of pain and sleep in hypersensitive bladder syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the efficacy of urine alkalization therapy using citrates in patients with hypersensitive bladder syndrome.


METHODS
A total of 76 patients with urinary frequency were assessed for their symptoms using a 2-day voiding diary as well as the urine pH at each voiding during the screening period. Their symptoms were also assessed by pain score, King's health questionnaire, and O'Leary-Sant symptom and problem index scores. Finally, 50 patients were evaluated for changes in symptoms after oral treatment with citrates for 2-4 weeks after the screening period.


RESULTS
After the treatment, significant increases in the urine pH (from 5.8 ± 0.4 to 6.3 ± 0.4; increment of 0.5 ± 0.4; P < 0.01), and significant decreases in the number of micturitions per day (from 14.5 ± 6.5 to 13.5 ± 5.9; P = 0.02) and the number of episodes of pain/discomfort per day (from 7.8 ± 6.8 to 6.1 ± 7.1; P = 0.02) were observed. In the King's health questionnaire, the sleep/energy domain score was significantly improved (from 60.0 ± 25.0 to 50.3 ± 29.6; P < 0.01). In a subgroup analysis based on urine pH (urine pH <6.2 and ≥6.2), significant improvements in the voiding symptoms, the sleep/energy domain score and the O'Leary-Sant problem index were observed in the group with urine pH of ≥6.2. There were statistically significant differences between the subgroups in the volume per voiding, maximum volume per voiding and the problem index. In addition, the subgroup, in which patients had pain in the screening period, showed statistically significant improvements in the number of micturitions per day, episodes of pain/discomfort per day, the sleep/energy domain score and the problem index.


CONCLUSIONS
Urine alkalization therapy is likely to be effective in the treatment for hypersensitive bladder syndrome.
Department of Urology, Ueda Clinic, Kyoto, Japan.
Tomohiro
T
Ueda
Toru
T
Yoshida
Hideki
H
Tanoue
Masaaki
M
Ito
Masahiro
M
Tamaki
Yasuhiko
Y
Ito
Naoki
N
Yoshimura
D002951:Citrates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management; D019357:Potassium Citrate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012074:Remission Induction; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D002951:Citrates; D000077559:Sodium Citrate; D019357:Potassium Citrate
hypersensitive bladder syndrome; interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome; quality of life; symptom index; urine pH