title: Stem Cell Therapy for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome.
abstract: Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is a disease characterized by pelvic pain, usually with urinary frequency. These symptoms make patients suffer from a poor quality of life. However, there is still a lack of consensus on the pathophysiology and curable treatment of IC/BPS. We have reviewed several candidates for the pathophysiology of this disease and also treatments that have been used. Although several oral medications, bladder instillation therapies, fulguration for Hunner's lesion, and hydrodistention have been tried as IC/BPS treatments, their outcomes have not been satisfactory. As the application of stem cell therapy is expanding into the urologic field, innovative strategies have been tested with animal models of IC/BPS and have shown promising therapeutic effects for reversing the symptoms of this disorder. Although several concerns about stem cell sources and their safety should be addressed before initiating human clinical trials, we introduce stem cell therapy as a valuable future treatment approach for IC/BPS.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-RO 43 GIL SONGPA-GU, Seoul, 05505, South Korea.
authors.forename: Aram
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Departments of Biomedical Science, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Myung
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Departments of Urology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 88 Olympic-RO 43 GIL SONGPA-GU, Seoul, 05505, South Korea. mschoo@amc.seoul.kr.
authors.forename: Myung-Soo
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Choo
mesh_terms: D000283:Administration, Intravesical; D000818:Animals; D064987:Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy; D018856:Cystitis, Interstitial / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011788:Quality of Life; D013234:Stem Cells
keywords: Bladder pain syndrome; Interstitial cystitis; Mesenchymal stem cell