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 .
A Pilot Open Label Study of Cystoprotek® in Interstitial Cystitis
Interstitial cystitis ( IC ) is a disorder of the urinary bladder characterized by urgency , frequency , nocturia and suprapubic pain . IC occurs primarily in women and symptoms are exacerbated by stress , ovulatory hormones and certain foods . IC pathogenesis is unknown , but the most consistent findings involve some dysfunction of the bladder glycosaminoglycan ( GAG ) protective layer and a high number of activated bladder mast cells . There is no effective therapy even through intravesical administration of dimethylsulfoxide ( DMSO ) or oral pentosanpolysulfate ( PPS ) have had variable success . A dietary supplement , CystoProtek ® , was formulated with the natural GAG components chondroitin sulfate and sodium hyaluronate to provide urothelial cytoprotection , together with the flavonoid quercetin that has anti-inflammatory properties and inhibits activation of mast cells . Thirty-seven female patients diagnosed by the NIDDK criteria who had failed all forms of therapy  took six softgel CystoProtek ® capsules per day for 6 months . Global assessment scale was reduced from 9.0 ± 2.9 to 4.3 ± 2.1 ( p < 0.05 ) ; moreover , the O'Leary/Sant Symptom Index decreased from 16.3 ± 3.1 to 6.9 ± 4.2 ( p < 0.05 ) and the Problem Index from 13.1 ± 3.7 to 5.4 ± 4.0 ( p < 0.05 ) . These results are very promising and warrant a larger study that may permit further analyses with respect to other , especially atopic , comorbid diseases
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 .