Prospective Randomised Trial Comparing Intravesical Chondroitin Sulphate 2% and DMSO in the Treatment of Painful Bladder Syndrome/ Interstitial Cystitis

A. Introduction

Painful bladder syndrome(PBS) is a syndrome which is poorly understood. Patients usually report suprapubic pain related to bladder filling and also report urinary urgency and frequency. In a subgroup of patients, typical cystoscopic findings can be noted and this defines this subgroup as interstitial cystitis. (Abrams et al. 116-26) The treatment of PBS/IC is empirical. Bladder hydrodistension under anesthesia, tricyclic antidepressants, antihistaminics and intravesical DMSO instillations are the only treatment for which some evidence exists in the literature. More than 150 other treatment modalities have been described . Most of them were poorly studied. (Fall et al. 1-99) Intravesical treatment with DMSO has stood the test of time and is the only FDA approved intravesical treatment of PBS/IC. DMSO however is also used as a solvent in the chemical industry and is in fact used ' off label' in this indication. (Erickson 333-43;Emerson and Perezmarrero A136;Perez-Marrero, Emerson, and Feltis 36-39) One of the theories on which intravesical treatment is based, claims that the glycosaminoglycan layer, which protects the urothelial cells is damaged. DMSO, Chondroitin sulphate, hyaluronic acid and heparin have been used to repair the GAG layer with variable clinical success. (Daha et al. 369-72;Daha et al. 987-90;Riedl et al. 717-21) Chondroitin sulphate seems to be promising, but comparative data are lacking. (Gauruder-Burmester and Popken 355-59;Nickel et al. 56-60;Hauser et al. 2477-82;Nordling and van Ophoven 328-35) Assessing the outcome of such treatments is difficult. Objective parameters such as daytime and nighttime frequency may not always reflect the impact of the condition on the life of the patient.

Patient reported outcome parameters are more frequently used to assess treatments in overactive bladder disease and in painful bladder research. Several validated questionnaires can be used to assess patients with PBS/IC. One of the most frequently used is the O'Leary-Sant questionnaire ( see annex 1). Next to this questionnaire the Global Response Assessment will be used. This is a validated 7 point Likert scale comparing the current status of the patient to the pre-intervention status. This scale has been used in several other studies on PBS/IC. (Nickel et al. 910-18;Baranowski et al. 33-36) Aim To compare the clinical effectiveness of intravesical chondroitin sulphate 2% ( Uracyst ™) and DMSO 50% in the treatment of patients with painful bladder syndrome

B. Randomization A central randomization will be used. Participating centers will have to contact the trial office of the dept. of urology of the University Hospitals Leuven to randomize the patient to one or the other treatment, either by telephone 016/346692 or 016/348345 or by mail elza.goossens@uzleuven.be or evelien.vankriekingen@uzleuven.be . A block randomization per center will be done. The randomization list was generated on a web application ( www.randomizer.org) to ensure an unbiased randomization schedule.

C. Protocol of administration Patients that are enrolled in the study will receive one intravesical instillation of Uracyst or DMSO a week during 6 weeks. DMSO is prepared as a 50% solution in 50cc physiologic serum. Uracyst will be prepared by the nurse or urologist administering the product.