Use of Dimethylsulfoxide in the Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis

Abstract

A prospective study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of intravesical dimethysulfoxide (DMSO) in the treatment of patients with interstitial cystitis (IC). Nighteen female patients with clinical evidences suggestive of IC received intravesial instillation of 50ml 50% DMSO every two weeks for six sessions. Response was assessed subjectively and urodynamically. Of the 15 patients completing this study, the subjective improvement rate was 53.3% (8/15) DMSO treatment caused a significant decrease in voiding frequency (16.9±6.1 vs.19.7±4.8, p＜0.05) and an increase of voided volume(136.9±40.1 ml vs. 107.4±35.9 ml, p＜0.05), but not of first sensation of filling (119.5±19.9 ml vs. 112.7±20.7 ml, p＞0.05) and cystometric bladder capacity (240.0±54.1 ml vs. 227.9±51.5 ml, p＞0.05). Side effects included six instances of local irritation and one headache. The follow-up was 6 to 20 months, with 6 of the responders requiring further intermittent instillations of DM-SO. Eventually, four of them failed to respond to DMSO instillation and other treatments were resorted to. From this study, it was concluded that while intavesicular DMSO can help patients with IC in short-term follow-up patients gradually become refractory to this type of therapy.