Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39821149›Full record

ArticleInternational urology and nephrology2025

Intravesical administration of highly concentrated hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate as add-on therapy for chemical cystitis induced by Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) immunotherapy.

M Gubbiotti, E Rubilotta, M Bacchiani, A Cocci, S Rosadi, S Serni, A Minervini, V Li Marzi

Erratum issuedAbstract readClinical StudyMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in International urology and nephrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

M GubbiottiDepartment of Urology, Santa Maria la Gruccia Hospital, Montevarchi, AR, Italy. marilena.gubbiotti@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3486-1226
E RubilottaDepartment of Urology, A.O.U.I. Verona University, Verona, Italy.
M BacchianiCareggi Hospital, Unit of Urological Oncologic Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery and Andrology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
A CocciCareggi Hospital, Unit of Urological Oncologic Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery and Andrology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
S RosadiDepartment of Urology, Santa Maria la Gruccia Hospital, Montevarchi, AR, Italy.
S SerniCareggi Hospital, Unit of Urological Oncologic Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery and Andrology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
A MinerviniCareggi Hospital, Unit of Urological Oncologic Minimally Invasive Robotic Surgery and Andrology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
V Li MarziDepartment of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Science, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeIntravesical (i) immunotherapy with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the recommended treatment for patients with intermediate- and high-risk non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after complete tumor resection. Discontinuation or suspension of this therapy is often due to local side effects. Aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of sequential intravesical instillations of combined hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) in reducing local BCG toxicity and urinary symptoms.

methodsThis was a prospective, multicentric study. Patients underwent BCG intravesical administration after Transurethral Resection of Bladder Tumor (TURBT) for intermediate/high-risk NMIBC. Patients underwent to HA + CS instillations after every (i) BCG (Group A) were compared with a control group (Group B) that included patient underwent only to BCG instillations, during the maintenance period. 3-day voiding diary, the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), IPSS quality-of-life index (IPSS-QoL), and VAS score (to evaluate bladder pain) were evaluated at baseline and at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow- up.

resultsOne hundred-eighteen patients were included (Group A: 63 patients, Group B: 55 patients). Mean value of IPSS, IPSS-QoL, and VAS score has significantly increase in Group A at 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up (p < 0.00). Group A showed also a significant improvement about irritative lower urinary symptoms (LUTS), which was maintained in the 6-month follow-up, as opposed to Group B that demonstrated a worsening in urinary symptoms during all follow-up (p < 0.00). No local or major side effects were reported during or after treatment.

conclusionThis study demonstrated that adding (i) HA + CS significantly reduces storage symptoms, pelvic pain, and day-time urinary frequency in patients with BCG-induced chemical cystitis. This therapy could therefore improve patient adherence, ensuring better adherence and lower drop-out rates.

Indexed as

BCG VaccineChondroitin SulfatesCystitisHyaluronic AcidImmunotherapyUrinary Bladder NeoplasmsAdjuvants, ImmunologicAdministration, IntravesicalAgedDrug Therapy, CombinationHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesQuality of LifeTreatment OutcomeAdjuvants, ImmunologicBCG VaccineChondroitin SulfatesHyaluronic AcidAdd-on therapyBacillus Calmette–GuérinChemical cystitisChondroitin sulfateHyaluronic acidIntravesical therapy

Identifiers

PMID39821149

What OpenQuestion holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.