title: Intravesical chondroitin sulphate for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the bladder. Bladder instillation is one avenue of treatment but evidence for its effectiveness is limited. Chondroitin sulphate solution 2.0% (Urocyst) is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) replenishment therapy instilled for patients with IC/PBS. We assessed its effectiveness for treating IC/PBS in Northern Ireland.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with IC/PBS were assessed with the O'Leary-Sant interstitial cystitis index score and global response assessment questionnaire prior to commencing treatment. Assessment with these questionnaires was performed after 6 treatments (10 weeks) and again after 10 treatments (24 weeks). Assessment end points were pain, urgency, symptom score and problem score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data was collected on 10 patients, 9 female and 1 male. 6 patients had failed RIMSO-50 dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) 50% treatment prior. At baseline the mean pain score was 6.6, urgency score 7.00, symptom score 13.5 and problem score 12.5. After 24 weeks the mean pain score fell to 2.0, urgency score to 1.80, symptom score to 6.89 and problem score to 5.67. At 10 weeks the global response to treatment was 100%. Nocturia was the first symptom to improve with urgency and pain following. No side effects were noted during instillation and all patients tolerated the treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IC/PBS is a difficult disease to treat. It requires a multimodal approach. We found that intravesical chondroitin sulphate reduced pain, urgency and O'Leary-Sant symptom and problem scores in patients with IC/PBS. All patients tolerated the treatment and no side effects were reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AB.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Downey
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AB.
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Hennessy
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AB ; Department of Urology, Causeway Area Hospital, 4 Newbridge Road, Coleraine, BT52 1HS.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Causeway Area Hospital, 4 Newbridge Road, Coleraine, BT52 1HS.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cartwright
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Causeway Area Hospital, 4 Newbridge Road, Coleraine, BT52 1HS.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Downey
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 7AB ; Department of Urology, Causeway Area Hospital, 4 Newbridge Road, Coleraine, BT52 1HS.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pahuja
mesh_terms: D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates