Successful Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis with Sodium pentosanpolysulfate

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Abstract
The surface of the bladder is lined by a layer of sulfonated glycosaminoglycans, of which the nonspecific antiadherence effect is reproduced by synthetic sulfonated glycosaminoglycans. This mucous layer appears to be the most important line of defense between the transitional cells and all harmful substances in the urine. Many disease states may be associated with a deficiency in the antiadherence activity of the glycosaminoglycan layer and may benefit from treatment with synthetic glycosaminoglycans. One such disease is interstitial cystitis. Oral sodium pentosanpolysulfate (Elmiron), a synthetic analog of a sulfonated glycosaminoglycan, to 24 patients with interstitial cystitis. Within 4-8 wk of initiation of treatment, 20 patients experienced a decrease of at least 80% in pain, urgency and nocturia, and 2 experienced a 50 to 80% decrease in these symptoms. The 22 patients who responded continue to experience progressive improvement with time.