Interferon Therapy Clinical Trial for Interstitial Cystitis

Clinical Trial – Intravesical Interferon Therapy vs Hyaluronic Acid for Pain Among Female Individuals with Interstitial Cystitis

Interferon Instillation holds promise as an effective treatment option.

A clinical trial was implemented from October 2022 to April 2023 and had a 6-month follow-up period. The objective of the clinical trial was to determine the efficacy and safety of intravesical interferon instillation compared with hyaluronic acid in female patients with IC. Eligible participants were female patients aged 18 to 70 years with a diagnosis of Interstitial Cystitis (IC) for more than 6 months. The last visit took place in October 2023. Data were analyzed between October and November 2023.

IMPORTANCE

Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is a debilitating condition. Although viral infection is a potential cause, few studies have detected the effect of antiviral treatment.

QUESTION

Does interferon instillation offer a novel treatment option for female patients with interstitial cystitis (IC)?

KEY WORDS

Interferons are proteins that are part of your natural defenses. They tell your immune system that germs or cancer cells are in your body. And they trigger killer immune cells to fight those invaders.

Interferons got their name because they “interfere” with viruses and keep them from multiplying.

In 1986, the first lab-made interferon was created to treat certain types of cancer. It was one of the earliest treatments to work with your immune system to fight illness and was later approved as a treatment for several other conditions, including hepatitis and multiple sclerosis.

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the fluids in the eyes and joints. It acts as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues.

Different forms of hyaluronic acid are used for cosmetic purposes. Hyaluronic acid might also affect the way the body responds to injury and help to decrease swelling.

People also commonly take hyaluronic acid by mouth and apply it to the skin for UTIs, acid reflux, dry eyes, wound healing, aging skin, and many other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support most of these other uses.

FINDINGS

In a randomized clinical trial of 52 patients with IC, intravesical interferon treatment led to a significant reduction in visual analog scale pain score, and Interstitial Cystitis Symptom and Problem Index scores at month 6 compared with hyaluronic acid, demonstrating potential efficacy in IC management.

MEANING

These findings suggest the intravesical interferon instillation holds promise as an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option for patients with IC, emphasizing the importance of antiviral approaches in improving patient care and quality of life.

These results offer hope for ANTIVIRAL approaches in Interstitial Cystitis.

CONCLUSIONS

In this randomized clinical trial, female patients with IC could benefit from intravesical interferon therapy, without serious adverse events. These results offered hope for antiviral approaches in IC, but larger-scale, multicenter trials and long-term follow-up should be considered. For more information see links below.