Hyperbaric oxygen therapy for painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis resistant to conventional treatments: long-term results of a case series in Japan
There is no confirmed strategy for treating painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) with unclear etiology. Therefore, a pilot study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in treatment-resistant PBS/IC patients.
Methods: HBO treatment (2.0 ATA for 60 minutes/day x 5 days/week for 2 or 4 weeks) was performed on 11 patients with severe symptoms that had not been improved by previous therapy regimens between December 2004 and July 2009.
Results: Seven of the 11 patients demonstrated persistent improvement in symptoms during the 12 months after HBO treatment.
These responders demonstrated a decrease in the pelvic pain scale and urgency scale from 7.7+/-1.0 and, 6.6+/-0.9 to 3.4+/-2.5 and, 4.3+/-2.4 at 12 months, respectively (p<0.05). The total score of the interstitial cystitis symptom index and 24-hour urinary frequency demonstrated a significant sustained decrease from the baseline.
Two responders, who received an additional course of HBO 12 and 13 months after initial treatment, respectively, have not suffered impairment for over 2 years. There was one case of transient eustachian tube dysfunction and 3 cases of reversible exudative otitis media as a consequence of HBO treatment.
Conclusions: HBO is a potent treatment for PBS/IC patients resistant to conventional therapy.
It was well tolerated and provided maintained amelioration of pain, urgency, and urinary frequency for at least 12 months.
Author: Tomoaki TanakaYujiro NittaKazuya MorimotoNoriaki NishikawaChikako NishiharaSatoshi TamadaHidenori KawashimaTatsuya Nakatani
Credits/Source: BMC Urology 2011, 11:11
There is no confirmed strategy for treating painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC) with unclear etiology. Therefore, a pilot study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy in treatment-resistant PBS/IC patients.
Methods: HBO treatment (2.0 ATA for 60 minutes/day x 5 days/week for 2 or 4 weeks) was performed on 11 patients with severe symptoms that had not been improved by previous therapy regimens between December 2004 and July 2009.
Results: Seven of the 11 patients demonstrated persistent improvement in symptoms during the 12 months after HBO treatment.
These responders demonstrated a decrease in the pelvic pain scale and urgency scale from 7.7+/-1.0 and, 6.6+/-0.9 to 3.4+/-2.5 and, 4.3+/-2.4 at 12 months, respectively (p<0.05). The total score of the interstitial cystitis symptom index and 24-hour urinary frequency demonstrated a significant sustained decrease from the baseline.
Two responders, who received an additional course of HBO 12 and 13 months after initial treatment, respectively, have not suffered impairment for over 2 years. There was one case of transient eustachian tube dysfunction and 3 cases of reversible exudative otitis media as a consequence of HBO treatment.
Conclusions: HBO is a potent treatment for PBS/IC patients resistant to conventional therapy.
It was well tolerated and provided maintained amelioration of pain, urgency, and urinary frequency for at least 12 months.
Author: Tomoaki TanakaYujiro NittaKazuya MorimotoNoriaki NishikawaChikako NishiharaSatoshi TamadaHidenori KawashimaTatsuya Nakatani
Credits/Source: BMC Urology 2011, 11:11
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