Efficacy of instillation treatment with hyaluronic acid in relieving symptoms in patients with BPS/IC and uncomplicated recurrent urinary tract infections - Long-term results of a multicenter study

International audienceThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of intra-vesical instillations with hyaluronic acid (HA) inrelieving lower urinary tract irritation symptoms in patients with urinary tract infections (UTIs) and bladder painsyndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC). This research, conducted in Romania, includes 30 patients with UTIs(Group I) and 24 with BPS/IC (Group II) as defined by European Association of Urology (EAU) DiagnosticCriteria. Data were collected prospectively, using pre- and post-treatment questionnaires for pelvic pain with asymptom scale for urination and frequency as well as visual analog scale (VAS) pain quizzes. At follow-up visits,at an average of 20 months, a significant improvement in urinary bladder pain, day-time urinary frequency andquality of life was observed in Group I patients. Group II patients experienced significant improvement in urinarybladder pain, urgency, nocturia and quality of life at the 15-month follow-up visit. Eighteen patients (75%)showed a complete response to intravesical HA instillations and required no further treatment. Our study demonstrates that intravesical HA instillations may be considered as an important treatment component, with longterm positive effects in therapeutic strategy for optimal results in uncomplicated recurrent UTIs and BPS/IC,with good compliance and minimal side effects