Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) is characterized by symptomatic frequency and urgency, as well as chronic pelvic pain. Disruption of the urothelial barrier is closely associated with IC/BPS.
As amniotic membranes (AM) offer capabilities of wound healing in many other fields of medicine, likewise amniotic bladder therapy (ABT) may offer capability of urothelial healing in IC/BPS.
Under general anesthesia, 10 consecutive IC/BPS patients received intra-detrusor injections of 100 mg micronized AM (Clarix Flo) diluted in 10 ml 0.9% preservative-free sodium chloride. Clinical evaluation and questionnaires (Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI), Interstitial Cystitis Problem Index (ICPI), Bladder Pain/ Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Score (BPIC-SS), Overactive Bladder Assessment Tool, and SF-12 Health Survey) were repeated at pre-op and 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks post-op.
Ten females (47.4 ± 14.4 years) who had recalcitrant IC/BPS for 7.8 years (5.2-12.1 years) received injection of micronized AM uneventful in all cases. After treatment, voiding symptoms and bladder pain significantly improved from pre-injection to 3 months. BPIC-SS significantly decreased from 37.4 ± 0.70 at baseline to 12.2 ± 2.90 at 3 months (p < 0.001). This corresponded to a significant improvement in their overall physical and mental quality of life. No adverse events occurred related to micronized AM injections, such as UTIs or acute urinary retention.
ABT could be an innovative treatment option for IC/BPS patients in terms of improving clinical symptoms based on preliminary outcomes at 3 months. Further studies are warranted to confirm the usefulness of ABT in patients with IC/BPS and to determine the duration of the effect.
International urology and nephrology. 2023 Jun 05 [Epub ahead of print]
Raghav Madan, Codrut Radoiu, Aron Liaw, Steven Lucas, Alaa Hamada, Nivedita Dhar
Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA., John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, 4646 John R Street, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA., John D. Dingell VA Medical Center, 4646 John R Street, Detroit, MI, 48201, USA. .
PubMed http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/37273012