Clinical experience with multiagent intravesical therapy in interstitial cystitis patients unresponsive to single-agent therapy

Summary A total of 25 patients with the diagnosis of interstitial cystitis (IC) were involved in this study. All patients had been previously diagnosed with interstitial cystitis and had received treatment with single intravesical agents. Patients were divided into two groups according to their bladder capacity. The bladder capacity was >350 ml in group I patients and <350 ml in group II patients. For our study, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), methylprednisolone, and heparin sulfate were given every week for a total of 6 weeks. When symptoms recurred, supportive oral pharmacotherapy consisting of anticholinergics and/or tricyclic antidepressants was given. Under anesthesia, patients in group I showed a 99% increase in their bladder capacity; whereas those in group II showed an increase of only 19%. Cystoscopically, Hunner's ulcers were present in 60% of the group II patients but were seen in only 5% of the group I patients. Histopathological examination showed that the inflammatory changes were more frequent and severe in group II than in group I. Mast-cell hyperplasia was present in 100% of the patients in group II, versus only 61% of those in group I. A total of 23 patients (92%) achieved an initial remission averaging 8.1 months. In all, 9 patients (35%) had 1 or more relapses, and all achieved a subsequent remission averaging 8 months. By this combined multiagent approach, the majority of patients with IC obtained relief from their incapacitating symptoms and were socially rehabilitated.