Treatment of interstitial cystitis with intravesical heparin

OBJECTIVE: To control the symptoms of interstitial cystitis with chronic self-administered intravesical heparin and determine whether the drug's continued use can sustain remission. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 48 patients were selected to undergo intravesical heparin therapy, 10,000 units in 10 ml sterile water, three times per week for 3 months. For patients who attained a good clinical remission, therapy was available for up to a further 9 months. RESULTS: At 3 months 27 of 48 patients (56%) attained good clinical remissions. All were offered continuous therapy and 23 elected for an additional 3 months. Twenty of the 23 continued in remission. Sixteen of these patients elected to have a further 6 months of therapy (12 months total) and 15 of 16 remained in remission. CONCLUSION: In over half of the patients studied, intravesical heparin controls the symptoms of interstitial cystitis with continued improvement even after one year of therapy.