Study designs of evaluations included in the review
Randomised, double-blind, parallel-group or crossover trials were eligible for inclusion in the review.
Specific interventions included in the review
Studies comparing pharmacological treatment for PBS/IC against placebo were eligible for inclusion. The specific interventions included: amitryptiline, antibiotics (type undefined), Bacille Calmette-Guerin, cimetidine, cyclosporine, dimethyl sulfoxide, hydrazine, L-arginine, oxybutinin, hyperbaric oxygen, pentosan polysulphate sodium, intravesical pentosan polysulphate and resiniferatoxin.
Participants included in the review
Studies including adults with PBS/IC were eligible for inclusion. Where reported, study populations were between 37% and 100% female and the mean age ranged from 41 to 65 years.
Outcomes assessed in the review
Studies measuring global status and/or individual PBS/IC symptoms were eligible for inclusion. Symptoms were scored on the O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index and the O'Leary-Sant Problem Index. The specific symptoms reported included pain, urinary urgency and urinary frequency, as well as global symptom improvement.
How were decisions on the relevance of primary studies made?
The authors did not state how the papers were selected for the review, or how many reviewers performed the selection.