Researchers in China have discovered a potential new treatment for IC patients: intravesical interferon. Interferons are a class of antiviral drugs typically used for serious viruses. Administering them directly into the bladders of IC patients through bladder instillations seems to be helping some patients.

For a few years now, researchers have speculated viruses could be the root cause of IC for some patients.(1)(2) No definitive conclusion has yet been reached, but exploring antiviral treatments as options for IC patients seems like a logical next step.

The types of viruses potentially behind IC for some patients are generally BK or JC viruses. Both are common viruses to which most of the population has been exposed. And both are viruses that stay in your body once you have it. Usually these viruses remain dormant, but occasionally, they can “wake up” and start causing symptoms of infection.(3)(4)

The researchers chose interferon because it treats both BK and JC viruses well.(5)

The Study

This was a randomized clinical trial with 52 female participants who had a mean age of 50 and an average of 4 years since the beginning of their symptoms. One dropped out part way through due to ineffective treatment with hyaluronic acid but continued to participate in answering questions. The patients were split into two equal groups: one to be treated with instillations of interferon and the other to be treated with instillations of hyaluronic acid.(5)

Hyaluronic acid is not used to treat IC in the United States, but it has been used to treat IC in other countries. As of 2022, the American Urological Association says studies regarding the treatment have failed to show efficacy.(6)

The women received instillations of their assigned medication once a week for four weeks and then once a month for four months thereafter. Each held the medication in her bladder for at least 30 minutes after instillation. Their symptoms were assessed at one month, three months and six months.(5)

The Findings

During the one-month and three-month patient assessments, neither group showed a statistical difference based on their pain scores and reported symptoms. At the six-month assessment, though, both groups of patients showed a significant difference when 77% of the patients receiving interferon and 46% of the patients receiving hyaluronic acid had a significant improvement in their symptoms.(5)

Only two adverse reactions occurred during the trial — both of which were minimal. First, 15% of the interferon group and 8% of the hyaluronic acid group had bladder irritation immediately after instillations that cleared on its own within a week without medical treatment. And second, 12% of the interferon group and 8% of the hyaluronic acid group had urinary tract infections after the instillations and were treated with antibiotics.(5)

The Conclusion

Though further studies with larger groups of patients are needed, this research shows treating some IC patients with antivirals may improve their symptoms and quality of life as a result.(5)

References:

  1. Osborne J. New Research Reveals Viral Infections in Some Interstitial Cystitis Patients. IC Network. June 12, 2020.
  2. Shannon S. A Common Virus Could be the Cause of IC in Some Patients. IC Network. March 26, 2019.
  3. National Kidney Foundation. BK Virus: What Transplant Patients Need to Know.
  4. Gold SS. What is the JC Virus?. WebMD. Aug. 23, 2022.
  5. Si-hong Shen MM, et. al. Intravesical Interferon Therapy vs Hyaluronic Acid for Pain Among Female Individuals With Interstitial Cystitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. April 8, 2024.
  6. Clemens JQ, et. al. Diagnosis and Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome. J. Urol. Vol. 208, No. 1, 2022.