Meta- analysis of RCTs showed that only cyclosporine A provided a simultaneous great effect size of SMD on ICSI , pain , and frequency .
Amitriptyline at different dosages showed a great effect size of SMD on pain and urgency or on ICSI and frequency .
The results from the n RCTs showed that the most frequently adopted treatment is oral pentosan polysulfate and that the use of botulinum A toxin intradetrusorial injections in PBS/IC is increasing .
Limited evidence exists for the few treatments for PBS/IC .
The lack of definitive conclusions is due to the great heterogeneity in methodology , symptoms assessment , duration of treatment , and follow-up in both RCTs and n RCTs
CONTEXT Different types of behavioural , dietary , interventional , pharmacologic , and surgical therapies have been used to treat painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis ( PBS/IC ) .
Because of the paucity of r and omised placebo-controlled studies on different treatments , an evidence -based management approach has not yet been developed .
OBJECTIVE To critically review and synthesize data from a wide range of current therapeutic approaches to PBS/IC , to quantify the effect size from r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) , and to reach clinical agreement on the efficacy of treatments for PBS/IC .
Long-term experience with pentosanpolysulfate in interstitial cystitis.
OBJECTIVES An oral preparation of pentosanpolysulfate sodium ( PPS ) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for interstitial cystitis ( IC ) . Previously published articles have documented improvement in symptoms in 28 % to 63 % of patients , but no long-term studies have been published . No unique characteristics except for Hunner 's ulcer have been found in patients experiencing relief from PPS . We report our experience with PPS  following patients up to 116 months and analyze baseline parameters in an attempt to characterize long-term responders . METHODS Baseline and follow-up data from 97 patients with IC and enrolled in a compassionate use study with PPS at the University of Wisconsin from 1987 to 1995 are analyzed . Previous treatments had failed , and patients had to pay for PPS . Patients continuing treatment with PPS were monitored every 3 months with question naires and laboratory tests . In 1996 an up date on medication and a question naire developed by the National Institutes of Health Interstitial Cystitis Data base were sent to patients who had discontinued treatment . RESULTS By the end of the study period 11 ( 11.3 % ) of the patients were still taking PPS , with 6 ( 6.2 % ) doing so continuously for more than 18 months . Three ( 3 % ) patients who discontinued PPS were in long-term remission . An additional 15 % had remission for a substantial period . Except for a weak correlation between less constant pain ( P = 0.0439 ) , no correlations were found between baseline parameters and duration of treatment with PPS . CONCLUSIONS On a long-term basis , between 6.2 % and 18.7 % of patients with IC benefit from PPS . The only baseline factor predicting response to PPS was less constant pain
Meta- analysis of RCTs showed that only cyclosporine A provided a simultaneous great effect size of SMD on ICSI , pain , and frequency .
Amitriptyline at different dosages showed a great effect size of SMD on pain and urgency or on ICSI and frequency .
The results from the n RCTs showed that the most frequently adopted treatment is oral pentosan polysulfate and that the use of botulinum A toxin intradetrusorial injections in PBS/IC is increasing .
Limited evidence exists for the few treatments for PBS/IC .
The lack of definitive conclusions is due to the great heterogeneity in methodology , symptoms assessment , duration of treatment , and follow-up in both RCTs and n RCTs
CONTEXT Different types of behavioural , dietary , interventional , pharmacologic , and surgical therapies have been used to treat painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis ( PBS/IC ) .
Because of the paucity of r and omised placebo-controlled studies on different treatments , an evidence -based management approach has not yet been developed .
OBJECTIVE To critically review and synthesize data from a wide range of current therapeutic approaches to PBS/IC , to quantify the effect size from r and omised controlled trials ( RCTs ) , and to reach clinical agreement on the efficacy of treatments for PBS/IC .