Treatment options are few for interstitial cystitis patients, especially for those with refractory disease. Frustratingly, trial after trial of promising therapies have shown no real improvement compared with placebo. But yesterday, that changed with presentation of the results of a trial of intravesical alkalinized lidocaine.

In chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS), two pivotal clinical trials "are going to have an immediate impact on the way you practice," said Anthony J. Schæffer, MD, professor and chairman of the department of urology at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago.

In 2008, urology is focusing on interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) in earnest, with important clinical trial results.

Urigen Pharmaceuticals has announced the early closure of its study of a drug known as URG101 due to positive, statistically significant interim analysis results in both the primary and all secondary endpoints. Top-line results of the interim analysis, which was planned at 50% enrollment, were previously released March 12.

An investigational bladder instillation appears to improve daytime pain in patients with painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis in a single dose, according to interim results of a phase II study.

Thomas Hooton, MD, discusses the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines on three common urologic infections.

Interstitial cystitis biomarkers didn't change with long-term neuromodulation in a surprising study.

For the first time in years, patients with interstitial cystitis, especially those with the worst cases, may have an effective new treatment.

The FDA has approved injectable doripenem (Doribax) for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections, including pyelonephritis. Doripenem has demonstrated activity against a wide range of gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas, that cause these serious infections, research has shown.