RESULTS OF TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY INTERSTITIAL CYSTITIS WITH INTRAVESICAL HYALURONIC-ACID

Interstitial cystitis is a chronic benign disease of the bladder that causes bothersome and debilitating symptoms and mainly affects women. Since interstitial cystitis (IC) might result from a defective glycosa minoglycan layer of the bladder epithelium, we conducted a trial of hy aluronic acid (HA), used intravesically, to test its activity in the t reatment of this disease. A total of 10 patients with typical findings of IC were included. Following bladder catheterisation, the patients received a dose of 40 mg, weekly for 6 weeks, and then monthly. Respon se to therapy was evaluated by comparing the pre-treatment and post-tr eatment symptom scores and voiding diaries. There was a 30% positive r esponse rate at week 6, which was maintained until week 24. No signifi cant local or general side-effects were noted during the course of tre atment. Although we recorded a low incidence of success in our group o f patients, the results of our limited study were satisfactory in the group of responsive patients (30%), who had no relapses during the obs ervation period of 6 months. The intravesical administration of HA was well tolerated in all cases.