Intravesical lidocaine in severe interstitial cystitis. Case report

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Interstitial cystitis (IC) presents as severe bladder pain, urgency, and incontinence.
• The condition involves significant inflammation of the bladder wall, often resistant to standard treatments.

Observation:

• A patient with a two-year history of severe IC experienced disabling symptoms.
• Conventional therapies showed limited success in managing the patient's condition.

Findings:

• Repeated intravesical lidocaine instillations provided significant pain relief.
• Lidocaine demonstrated a potent and long-lasting anti-inflammatory effect on the bladder wall.
• Therapeutic lidocaine levels remained below toxic thresholds, with no reported adverse reactions.

Implications:

• Intravesical lidocaine may represent a novel therapeutic option for severe interstitial cystitis.
• This approach warrants further investigation for its efficacy and safety in a broader patient cohort.
• Understanding lidocaine's anti-inflammatory mechanisms in IC could lead to improved treatment strategies.