title: Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Bladder Pain Syndrome. Spanish Urological Association Consensus Document.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis (BPS/IC) and other bladder pathologies share common manifestations, such as the presence of mictional symptoms and a negative impact on the patient's quality of life. To be properly diagnosed and clinically managed, it is important to distinguish between its clinical modalities and diagnostic criteria for adequate exclusion.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to standardize criteria for making decisions in BPS management, for its diagnosis, initial treatment and follow-up.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nominal group methodology was employed, using scientific evidence on BPS taken from a systematic (non-exhaustive) literature review for developing recommendations along with specialist expert opinions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The diagnosis of BPS should be made based on the patient's clinical history, with emphasis on pain and mictional symptoms as well as excluding other pathologies with similar symptomatology. BPS treatment should be directed towards restoring normal bladder function, preventing symptom relapse and improving patients' quality of life. It is therefore advisable to start with conservative treatment and to adopt less conservative treatments as the level of clinical severity increases. It is also recommended to abandon ineffective treatments and reconsider other therapeutic options.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quickly identifying the pathology is important when trying to positively influence morbidity and care quality for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, España. Electronic address: ESTEBOTE@telefonica.net.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital General Universitario, Burgos, España.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Adot
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitari i Politècnic la Fe, Valencia, España.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arlandis
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Clínico de Barcelona, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peri
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitario de Elche, Alicante, España.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salinas
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Urología, Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, España.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cozar
mesh_terms: D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans
keywords: Bladder pain syndrome; Consenso; Consensus; Diagnosis; Diagnóstico; Disease management; Guía práctica; Manejo de la enfermedad; Practical guide; Síndrome de dolor vesical; Tratamiento; Treatment