title: Decrease of urinary nerve growth factor but not brain-derived neurotrophic factor in patients with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome treated with hyaluronic acid.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate urinary nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels in interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) patients after hyaluronic acid (HA) therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three patients with IC/BPS were prospectively studied; a group of 45 age-matched healthy subjects served as controls. All IC/BPS patients received nine intravesical HA instillations during the 6-month treatment regimen. Urine samples were collected for measuring urinary NGF and BDNF levels at baseline and 2 weeks after the last HA treatment. The clinical parameters including visual analog scale (VAS) of pain, daily frequency nocturia episodes, functional bladder capacity (FBC) and global response assessment (GRA) were recorded. Urinary NGF and BDNF levels were compared between IC/BPS patients and controls at baseline and after HA treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urinary NGF, NGF/Cr, BDNF, and BDNF/Cr levels were significantly higher in IC/BPS patients compared to controls. Both NGF and NGF/Cr levels significantly decreased after HA treatment. Urinary NGF and NGF/Cr levels significantly decreased in the responders with a VAS pain reduction by 2 (both p < 0.05) and the GRA improved by 2 (both p < 0.05), but not in non-responders. Urinary BDNF and BDNF/Cr did not decrease in responders or non-responders after HA therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Urinary NGF, but not BDNF, levels decreased significantly after HA therapy; both of these factors remained higher than in controls even after HA treatment. HA had a beneficial effect on IC/BPS, but it was limited. The reduction of urinary NGF levels was significant in responders, with a reduction of pain and improved GRA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yuan-Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan; Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hsin-Tzu
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital and Tzu Chi University, Hualien, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hann-Chorng
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000652:urine*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor; D003404:Creatinine