Intravesical Glycosaminoglycans Experience for Chronic Lower Urinary Tract Pathology Treatment

Abstract

Objective Intravesical glycosaminoglycans (GAG) treatment is one of the therapeutic options for chronic bladder pathologies and is approved for Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS), radiation cystitis, and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). The purpose of this study is to describe the demographic characteristics of patients with such pathologies in our population and to evaluate treatment response. Methods It is a retrospective study of patients with the aforementioned pathologies, who received treatment with GAG. Demographic characteristics and subjective improvement with treatment were evaluated. A bivariate analysis was performed to study possible improvement predictors. Results 53 patients were evaluated. Of them, 33 (62.3%) with BPS, 12 (22.6%) with recurrent UTIs, and 8 (15.1%) with radiation cystitis. The dose range received was between 4 - 20 instillations, with a median of 6 doses. 67.9% of patients showed improvement of symptoms with treatment, this percentage being even higher for the group of patients with recurrent UTIs (91%). No treatment response predictors were found. Conclusions Intravesical GAG treatment is a therapeutic alternative for patients with chronic bladder pathologies, with satisfactory results in the medium term. Prospective studies are needed to support the findings of this study.

Keywords

• chronic pain
• urinary tract infection
• interstitial cystitis
• glycosaminoglycans
• hyaluronic acid