CYSTITIS ASSOCIATED WITH TIAPROFENIC ACID - A SURVEY OF BRITISH AND IRISH UROLOGISTS

Objective To quantify the extent and natural history of cystitis in re lation to treatment with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSA ID) tiaprofenic acid. Methods Anonymous postal questionnaires were sen t to all UK and Irish consultant urologists enquiring about their awar eness of the association between tiaprofenic acid (Surgam(TM)) and cys titis, and the number, nature and clinical details of patients with th e diagnosis. Results Of the 357 urologists, 45.7% replied; 37.4% of th ose who responded had had cases of NSAID-concurrent cystitis, 35.6% re plied that they had no personal experience but were aware of the possi bility of an adverse drug reaction and 27% were unaware of the possibi lity of NSAID-related interstitial cystitis. There were 108 reported c ases of cystitis; 55 (51%) were women, 12 (11%) were men and gender wa s not stated in 41 (38%). The median duration of treatment was 59 week s (range 6 weeks-4 years). Symptoms abated completely on stopping the drug in 86% of patients, resolving in a median of 14 weeks (range 7 da ys-2 years). In seven cases (10%), resolution was incomplete; 17 patie nts had undergone reconstructive urological surgery. Conclusion Tiapro fenic acid has caused at least 108 cases of cystitis and several of th ese patients underwent extensive urological surgery based on the assum ption that they were suffering from chronic interstitial cystitis. Mos t cases were reversible on withdrawal of tiaprofenic acid, but 10% of patients had residual symptoms. Tiaprofenic acid causes a higher incid ence of cystitis than any other NSAID and its withdrawal from the mark et should be considered.