Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of bladder hydrodistension combined with pentosan polysulfate (PPS) treatment in interstitial cystitis (IC)/bladder pain syndrome (BPS). METHODS: In this study, 339 patients diagnosed with IC/BPS were categorized into two groups. The first group only received 300 mg/day PPS, while the second group received 300 mg/day PPS following bladder hydrodistension. The results were evaluated at the 3rd, 6th, and 12th months after the first dose using the interstitial cystitis symptom index (ICSI), international cystitis problem index (ICPI), visual analog scale (VAS), and female sexual function index (FSFI). RESULTS: PPS treatment started just after hydrodistension was significantly more effective than PPS treatment alone and combined treatment significantly reduced the rate of non-compliance such that, at the end of the 3rd month, 12.1% patients in Group-1 did not continue their treatment whereas only 1.9% of patients in Group-2 did not continue. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicate that PPS treatment started just after hydrodistension yields significantly better results in terms of both symptom improvement and treatment compliance in patients with IC/BPS.