Een gained from previous studies there remains an incomplete understanding of the natural history of UCPPS, including risk factors for development and variation of pain and urologic symptoms and the nature of symptom fluctuations over time (“flares”); a lack of major insights into fundamental pathophysiology; no consensus on diagnostic or prognostic criteria or a consensus clinical definition; and no generally effective treatment options or prevention strategies for patients. The relationships between IC/BPS and co-occurring disorders and with other urologic conditions with overlapping symptoms have not yet been defined. In addition, there is a strong likelihood that Stattic biological activity patients with IC/PBS may possess differing clinical phenotypes that likely influence their course of illness. Such sub-groups, if present, will need tobe considered in the design of MK-1439 chemical information future clinical trials. This inadequate progress on understanding this syndrome is likely due to a number of limitations in previous approaches, including an over emphasis on identifying pathologies in the bladder without consistent consideration of other pelvic conditions or systemic contributions, insufficient collaborations between basic and clinical researchers and with disciplines beyond urology, over-interpreting data from animal models that are insufficiently validated relative to patient symptomatology, and too few innovative and integrated research strategies. In addition, it is possible that due to the inclusion criteria defining IC/BPS some clinical trials have examined efficacy in cohorts comprised of heterogeneous patient phenotypes with differing etiologies, but overlapping symptom profiles. This has the potential to mask true efficacy of treatments (i.e., reduce statistical power) that may be specific to certain phenotypes. Stepping back to move forward: advancing new views of IC/BPS Following the outcome of the above studies it became apparent that traditional approaches had not yielded sufficient new insights. New perspectives and novel study designs were clearly needed to expand our understanding of the pathophysiology underlying IC/BPS and ultimately to improving clinical care for patients. These would be expected to involve diverse urologic and non-urologic expertise and new methodological approaches to promote a comprehensive description of IC/BPS cause and patient phenotype. Studies must also be informed by recent insights that open new avenues of research. For example, findings that IC/BPS in some patients is found in association with other pain conditions suggesting systemic involvement beyond the bladder, such as central nervous system contributions seen in other chronic pain disorders (31-33). In the following sections we briefly describe the design and selected findings from recent, and in our view, novel research studies that have addressed key clinical questions for IC/BPS. These efforts employ unique methodology, study designs, and expertise that extend beyond traditional basic science or clinical investigations and promote new views of IC/BPS beyond solely a “disorder of the bladder”. Common to these studies is the growing realization that to make meaningful improvements in clinical management it is first necessary to take a step back and develop a more comprehensive and fundamental understanding of IC/BPS.?Translational Andrology and Urology. All rights reserved.www.amepc.org/tauTransl Androl Urol 2015;4(5):524-Translational Andrology and Urology, Vol 4, No 5 Octo.Een gained from previous studies there remains an incomplete understanding of the natural history of UCPPS, including risk factors for development and variation of pain and urologic symptoms and the nature of symptom fluctuations over time (“flares”); a lack of major insights into fundamental pathophysiology; no consensus on diagnostic or prognostic criteria or a consensus clinical definition; and no generally effective treatment options or prevention strategies for patients. The relationships between IC/BPS and co-occurring disorders and with other urologic conditions with overlapping symptoms have not yet been defined. In addition, there is a strong likelihood that patients with IC/PBS may possess differing clinical phenotypes that likely influence their course of illness. Such sub-groups, if present, will need tobe considered in the design of future clinical trials. This inadequate progress on understanding this syndrome is likely due to a number of limitations in previous approaches, including an over emphasis on identifying pathologies in the bladder without consistent consideration of other pelvic conditions or systemic contributions, insufficient collaborations between basic and clinical researchers and with disciplines beyond urology, over-interpreting data from animal models that are insufficiently validated relative to patient symptomatology, and too few innovative and integrated research strategies. In addition, it is possible that due to the inclusion criteria defining IC/BPS some clinical trials have examined efficacy in cohorts comprised of heterogeneous patient phenotypes with differing etiologies, but overlapping symptom profiles. This has the potential to mask true efficacy of treatments (i.e., reduce statistical power) that may be specific to certain phenotypes. Stepping back to move forward: advancing new views of IC/BPS Following the outcome of the above studies it became apparent that traditional approaches had not yielded sufficient new insights. New perspectives and novel study designs were clearly needed to expand our understanding of the pathophysiology underlying IC/BPS and ultimately to improving clinical care for patients. These would be expected to involve diverse urologic and non-urologic expertise and new methodological approaches to promote a comprehensive description of IC/BPS cause and patient phenotype. Studies must also be informed by recent insights that open new avenues of research. For example, findings that IC/BPS in some patients is found in association with other pain conditions suggesting systemic involvement beyond the bladder, such as central nervous system contributions seen in other chronic pain disorders (31-33). In the following sections we briefly describe the design and selected findings from recent, and in our view, novel research studies that have addressed key clinical questions for IC/BPS. These efforts employ unique methodology, study designs, and expertise that extend beyond traditional basic science or clinical investigations and promote new views of IC/BPS beyond solely a “disorder of the bladder”. Common to these studies is the growing realization that to make meaningful improvements in clinical management it is first necessary to take a step back and develop a more comprehensive and fundamental understanding of IC/BPS.?Translational Andrology and Urology. All rights reserved.www.amepc.org/tauTransl Androl Urol 2015;4(5):524-Translational Andrology and Urology, Vol 4, No 5 Octo.
