Pentosan polysulfate

What is/are Pentosan polysulfate?

Pentosan polysulfate sold under the name Elmiron by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical and "Comfora" by Swati Spentose Pvt. Ltd. in India is the only oral medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of interstitial cystitis (IC), also known as painful bladder syndrome.

Medical uses

Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome

Interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS) patients struggle with symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, pressure and/or pain, as well as nocturia (frequent urination at night), dyspareunia (painful intercourse), pain and/or discomfort while sitting in a car, while driving and/or travelling.

The origin/cause of IC/PBS is currently unknown though a number of theories are currently under consideration. Urine cultures are typically negative for infection, yet it is not unusual for patients to believe that they have had infections for years rather than IC/PBS, because the symptoms of IC/PBS mimic those of an infection. Pentosan polysulfate is available as pills or as a direct infusion into the bladder.

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies

Recently pentosan polysulfate has gained attention as possibly being effective in the treatment of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), although there is currently no definitive evidence for this idea other than results of the ongoing treatment (published) of one patient in Northern Ireland and around six other patients in mainland Britain. Around 15 other patients in non-UK countries have also received this treatment in an attempt to halt or slow down CJD and related disease progression.

Adverse effects

Patients who have taken pentosan orally report a variety of side effects, primarily gastrointestinal complaints such as diarrhea, heartburn, and stomach pain. Hair loss, headache, rash, and insomnia have also been reported. Due to Elmiron's anticoagulant effects, some patients report bruising more easily. In some cases, patients are asked to stop taking the medication before any major surgical procedures to reduce the likelihood of bleeding.

This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Pentosan polysulfate, which is released under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share-Alike License 3.0.