Source: The following summary is from the July 2009 newsletter of the International Painful Bladder Foundation (IPBF, www.painful-bladder.org).
The nomenclature to be used is IC/PBS
Recurrent pelvic pain or discomfort (pressure, burning, throbbing, etc.) of at least 4-6 weeks’ duration, which increases with bladder filling and/or decreases with micturition in the absence of definable pathology associated with urinary frequency and/or urgency.
- Frequency volume chart for 24 hours
- Urine routine and culture
- Ultrasonography of kidney, ureter and bladder with post void residue
- Cystoscopy under anaesthesia. Biopsy to be done if any other lesion is suspected.
- Therapeutic hydrodistension
- Oral drug therapy in second stage if hydrodistension is not effective.
- Intravesical therapy if oral therapy fails or patient develops flare-up.
The following decisions were also taken by the Society members:
- Multi-centre research will be undertaken during the coming year to consolidate the expert views in the guidelines.
- Research work has been delegated to various members to study the sensitivity and specificity of the definition, the role of biopsy, the role of urodynamics, the role of testing for genitourinary tuberculosis and the role of urinary cytology.
- It is expected that preliminary results will be available in sometime in 2010.
- The guidelines will be reviewed after one year and if necessary changes will be incorporated.
- All the centres taking part in research will maintain a net-based database and share patient data after the legal requirements of participating centres are met.
- Furthermore, every endeavour will be made to establish a World IC/PBS Society and convene an international meeting.
Posted July 24, 2009