Dimethyl sulfoxide in treatment of inflammatory genitourinary disorders

Intravesical dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been used in the treatment of 213 patients with various inflammatory conditions involving the lower genitourinary tract, including intractable interstitial cystitis, radiation cystitis, chronic prostatitis, and chronic female trigonitis. Significant symptomatic relief has been achieved in the majority of patients so treated, and no systemic or local toxicity has been noted. Some patients failed to respond entirely, and others relapsed after DMSO treatment periods of several months, ultimately coming to augmentation cystoplasty or urinary diversion. However, because of its simplicity and ease of administration, intravesical DMSO therapy is recommended in all noninfectious or non-neoplastic inflammatory conditions presenting initially with severe symptoms, or that have failed to respond to conventional therapy.