Treatment of bladder pain syndrome and interstitial cystitis: a systematic review

Introduction and hypothesis Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) has various treatments; however, no standardized treatment has been established. The aim was to analyze different types of treatment of BPS/IC and their effectiveness. Methods A literature review with a search strategy for articles related to BPS/IC published between 1990 and 2014 was conducted on MEDLINE, PUBMED, and SCOPUS. Only randomized controlled trials in women were included in the meta-analysis, while other experimental studies were used as bases for a systematic review of the topic. Clinical trial quality was defined according to the Jadad scale. Results Of 356 articles, 13 were included in the analysis. The intervention methods were as follows: instillation of hyaluronic acid, botulinum toxin A, intravesical lidocaine, hyperbaric chamber, massage, physiotherapy, phosphate-buffered saline, piroxicam in combination with doxepin, and others. We did not find any treatment with at least two randomized controlled trials for meta-analysis. Among the assessment tools for symptoms of BPS/IC, the most frequently used were the visual analogue scale, voiding record, and the O’Leary–Sant questionnaire. Conclusion Existing studies were not able to define the best approach for the treatment of BPS/IC. The lack of standardized treatment may be related to the diversity of interventions used; therefore, further studies with better methodological quality are needed.