A prospective study to evaluate the efficacy of Cistiquer in improving lower urinary tract symptoms in females with urethral syndrome

AIM: The aim of the study was to compare Cistiquer, a new phytotherapeutic product developed for chronic bladder inflammatory diseases, and intra-vesical administration of gentamicin plus betametasone, in females with urethral syndrome. METHODS: Between september 2013 and may 2014, 60 women with urethral syndrome and trigonitis were incuded in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to treatment with intra-vesical administration of betametasone 8 mg plus gentamicin 80 mg (group A), and oral administration of Cistiquer (group B) for 7 weeks. Before and after the therapeutic protocol, symptoms were assessed by three days voiding diary, the overactive bladder questionnaire short form and a ten points visual analogic scale adopted to assess the micturition discomfort. Histologic findings were assessed by the examination of specimens obtained by cold bladder biopsies of the bladder trigone at baseline in all the subjects. RESULTS: The two groups had significant and comparable symptoms improvement. However, the score obtained from the visual analogic scale decreased significantly only in the group submitted to oral therapy. Furthermore, in the group treated with endovesical approach, higher drop out rate and higher incidence of urinary infection were observed. CONCLUSION: Patients with urethral syndrome and trigonitis improved symptoms either with oral therapy with Cistiquer and with intra-vesical administration of gentamicin plus betametasone. However, treatment adherence resulted higher for patients treated by oral therapy and rate of adverse events resulted higher for those submitted to endovesical treatment.