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Esteban M, Adot JM, Arlandis S, Peri L, Prieto L, Salinas J, Cozar JM; Grupo de trabajo para las recomendaciones en el diagnóstico y manejo del síndrome de dolor vesical. Realizado bajo los auspicios de la Asociación Española de Urología. 2013. Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Management of Bladder Pain Syndrome. Spanish Urological Association Consensus Document. Actas Urol Esp. 2015 May 27. pii: S0210-4806(15)00029-7. doi: 10.1016/j.acuro.2015.01.006. [Epub ahead of print]

This article, available in both English and Spanish, makes a number of practical suggestions on how clinicians can diagnose and treat interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) in a standardized and methodical manner. The recommendations are based on the latest scientific evidence and specialist expert opinions. The experts recommend that the diagnosis should be made carefully based on the clinical history of the patient, with special emphasis on pain and urinary symptoms, taking care to rule out other disorders that have similar symptoms. The main goals of treatment should be to restore normal bladder function, prevent relapse of symptoms, and improve the quality of life for the patient. They advise starting with conservative treatment, but also to consider “less conservative” treatments for more clinically severe cases. When a treatment doesn’t work, they recommend abandoning it and considering other therapeutic options that could help.