Introduction: Low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LiESWT) is a new potential treatment for intractable interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS), and this paper will evaluate its therapeutic effects on IC/BPS.
Materials and methods: This prospective clinical trial enrolled 30 women who have been diagnosed with IC/PBS to receive LiESWT treatment at an intensity of 0.25 mJ/mm2 and a frequency of 3 pulses/second, for a total of 3000 pulses within 8 weeks. And we assessed questionnaires (including O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index (ICSI)), 3-day voiding diary, and urodynamic study at the following intervals: 4 weeks of LiESWT (W4), 8 weeks of LiESWT (W8), 1-month follow-up (F1), 3-month follow-up (F3) after LiESWT, and 1 year follow-up (F12).
Results: The primary outcome of questionnaires showed significant improvement of symptoms compared to baseline (W0), especially on ICSI(12.87 ± 3.44 before treatment and 7.87 ± 5.27 at F12, p < 0.05). 3-day voiding diary also revealed significant decrease in daytime voiding frequency (15.57 ± 5.22 times before treatment and 10.70 ± 4.21 times at F1, p < 0.05) and significant increase on average voiding volume (95.85 ± 35.30 mL before treatment and 161.27 ± 74.21 mL at F1, p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in all parameters of the urodynamic study.
Conclusion: LiESWT can mitigate pain and lower urinary tract symptoms and improve the quality of life in IC/PBS patients, but does not increase the maximal cystometric capacity.
Keywords: extracorporeal shock wave therapy; interstitial cystitis.
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