Intravesical hyaluronic acid for interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome: A comparative randomized assessment of different regimens

Objectives: To compare the clinical effectiveness of different regimens of intravesical hyaluronic acid instillation for patients with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. Methods: A total of 60 patients (age 16–77 years) diagnosed with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome were enrolled in this prospective, randomized study. A total of 30 patients were assigned to receive four weekly intravesical instillations of 40 mg of hyaluronic acid followed by five monthly instillations (hyaluronic acid‐9 group). Another 30 patients received 12 intravesical instillations of 40 mg hyaluronic acid every 2 weeks (hyaluronic acid‐12 group). Symptomatic changes after hyaluronic acid treatments were assessed using Interstitial Cystitis Symptom and Problem Indexes, pain visual analog scale, functional bladder capacity, frequency and nocturia in voiding diary, maximum flow rate, voided volume, postvoid residual volume, and Quality of Life Index at 1, 3 and 6 months. Results: Of the 60 patients, 59 were evaluable at the end of the study. The Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index, Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index and total score, pain visual analog scale, functional bladder capacity, maximum flow rate, and Quality of Life Index improved significantly after 6 months in both groups. The frequency and voided volume improved significantly only in the hyaluronic acid‐12 group. However, patients with moderate and marked improvement were clinically similar in both groups. The measured variables did not differ between the two groups over the course of the study. Conclusion: No significant difference was noted in the therapeutic effect between two hyaluronic acid instillation regimens for treatment of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome patients. Both groups showed significant improvement in symptom scores and Quality of Life Index.