Prophylactic vesical instillations with 0.2% chondroitin sulfate may reduce symptoms of acute radiation cystitis in patients undergoing radiotherapy for gynecological malignancies

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: We studied the feasibility and efficacy of intravesical instillations with 40 ml chondroitin sulfate 0.2% solution to prevent or reduce acute radiation cystitis in women undergoing pelvic radiotherapy. METHODS: In a comparative pilot study in 20 patients, half of the patients received instillations. Instillations' bother was measured with visual analog scores (VAS, 0–10); bladder pain, with VAS; micturition-related quality of life, with the urogenital distress inventory (UDI). RESULTS: One of the instilled patients discontinued the instillations. The first median “acceptability”-VAS was 0 (range, 0–3); the last median was 1 (range, 0–3). “Bladder pain”-VAS peaked halfway in the treatment among controls (median, 1; range, 0–5) and after treatment in the instilled patients (median, 1; range, 1–3). UDI scores showed over time median follow-up scores at or above median baseline scores in controls and at or below median baseline scores in instilled patients. CONCLUSION: Intravesical instillations with chondroitin sulfate 0.2% solution may decrease the bother related to bladder symptoms and are well tolerated.